I 


UNIVERSITY  OF 

ILLINOIS  LIBRARY 

AT  URBANA  CHAMPAIGN 

ILL.  HIST.  SURVEY 


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/4'^ 


Historical  Sketch  of  The  Young 
Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion of  Chicago 


ASSOCIATION  BUILDING 
HOME  OF  THE  CENTRAL  DEPARTMENT 


Historical  Sketch  of  The  Young 
Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion of  Chicago 


PREPARED  BY 

EDWIN  BURRITT  SMITH 

JOHN  COWLES  GRANT 

HORACE  MANN  STARKEY 


1858-1898 


CHICAGO 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  ASSOCIATION 

1898 


2  ^r>^  5  5-^ 


*'From  whatever  side  we  approach  the  magnificent  edifice  the 
Toung  Men^  s  Christian  Association  has  been  rearing,  we  shall  find 
it  the  most  stately  temple  to  the  power  and  prowess  of  unsectarian 
Christianity  erected  in  modern  times.'*'' — harper's  weekly. 

•<//  would  be  very  congenial  to  me  to  dwell  upon  the  wide  and 
beneficent  influence  of  the  Chicago  association  throughout  the  whole 
brotherhood.*''  —  richard  c.   morse. 


PREFATORY  NOTE. 

The  undersigned,  a  committee  appointed  by  the 
board  of  managers  to  prepare  and  publish  this  "His- 
torical Sketch  of  The  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion of  Chicago,"  desire  to  acknowledge  valuable 
assistance  from  Cyrus  H.  McCormick,  L.  Wilbur 
Messer,  I.  E.  Brown,  Richard  C.  Morse,  Robert  Wei- 
densall,  A.  T.  Hemingway,  Dr.  J.  H.  Hollister,  Major 
D.  W.  Whittle,  F.  G.  Ensign  and  Walter  T.  Hart. 
Most  of  these  have  furnished  to  the  committee  valu- 
able written  statements  which  have  been,  so  far  as 
practicable,  embodied  in  the  text.  We  have  sought 
to  give  a  mere  outline  sketch  of  the  story  of  the  asso- 
ciation. This  has  made  it  necessary  to  omit  many  in- 
teresting and  valuable  details.  We  have  assumed 
that  the  members  and  friends  of  the  association  desire 
a  general  statement  of  what  it  has  been  and  is,  rather 
than  reminiscences  of  the  many  prominent  men  who 
have  engaged  in  its  service.  Such  personal  mention  as 
appears  is  but  incidental.  While  many  faithful  men 
to  whom  the  association  has  given  opportunities  for 
Christian  service  find  no  mention  here,  it  is  believed 
that  most  of  those  who  have  been  especially  active  in 
its  work  are  at  least  incidentally  referred  to  in  these 

5 


Prefatory  Note. 


pages.  This  sketch  has  been  prepared  within  a  few 
weeks  in  connection  with  other  pressing  duties.  We 
cannot  hope  that  it  will  be  found  free  from  error,  or 
that  all  will  regard  it  an  adequate  recital  of  the  story 
of  the  Chicago  association. 

Edwin  Burritt  Smith, 
John  Cowles  Grant, 
Horace  Mann  Starkey, 

Committee  of  Board  of  Managers. 
Chicago,  May  7,  1898. 


CONTENTS. 

PAGES. 

Early  Days,           -            -            -            -            -        .    -  -     " 

First  Period  (1858-1888),       -----  20 

Second  Period  (1888-1898),          -            -            -           -  -    37 

Buildings,         -------  47 

World-Wide  Relations,              -           -           -           -  -    65 

The  Outlook,              ------  73 

Appendix,                 -            -            -            -            -            -  -    81 

Index,     --------85 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Association  Building,  ....  (Frontispiece.) 

The  Presidents,        -            -            -            -            -            -  -14 

Early  Officials,               ......  16 

First  Farwell  Hall,              -            -            -            -            -  -     24 

Third  Farwell  Hall,      .-----  26 

James  L.  Houghteling,      -            -            -            -            -  -    28 

Third  Farwell  Hall  Interior,  -----  32 

The  Secretaries,        -            -            -            -            -            -  "34 

John  V.  Farwell,  Jr.,    ------  38 

Class  Rooms,           -            -            -            -            -            -  -40 

Parlors  and  Class  Room,        .            .            .            -            -  42 

Gymnasium  and  Natatorium,       -            -            -            -  -    44 

Henry  M.  Hubbard,     ------  46 

West  Side  Department  Building,               -            -            -  -     48 

Ravenswood  Department  Building,                -            -            -  50 

Englewood  Department  Building,             -            -            -  -     52 

Hyde  Park  Department  Building,      -            -            -            -  54 

Entrance  and  Restaurant,  Association  Building,            -  -     56 

Garfield  Boulevard  Railroad  Building,        -            -            -  58 

Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railroad  Building,               -  -     58 

Dearborn  Station  Railroad  Building,              -            -            -  60 

Grand  Trunk  Railroad  Building,              -             -            -  -     62 

Supervisory  and  Educational  Officials,           -            -            -  66 

The  Present  Advisory  Managers,             -            -            -  -     68 

The  Principal  Paid  Officers,    -----  70 

The  Present  Trustees,       -             -            -            -            -  -     72 

The  Present  Managers,             ...            -            -  74 

Cyrus  H.  McCormick,        -            -            -            -            -  -     76 

L.  Wilbur  Messer,         ------  78 


EARLY  DAYS. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of  Chicago 
was  organized  in  the  month  ot  March,  1858.  Within 
the  preceding  year  a  great  financial  panic  had  swept 
over  the  country.  While  this  was  at  its  height,  the 
first  Fulton-street  (New  York)  prayer-meeting  was  held, 
from  which  dated  a  general  revival  of  religion.  Out 
of  this  great  revival  came  the  Chicago  association. 
President  Cyrus  Bentley  in  his  inaugural  address, 
June  21,  1858,  gave  expression  to  the  deep  religious 
feeling  of  the  time  : 

"During  the  past  few  months,  God  has,  in  his  infi- 
nite mercy,   favored  our  land  with   a   most  glorious 

work   of    grace From   all   classes,   ages, 

and  conditions  of  society,  have  been  gathered  precious 
trophies  of  His  victorious  power.  Especially  from  the 
young  men  of  our  land  have  been  raised  up,  as  the 
fruits  of  this  work  of  the  spirit,  a  great  army.  .  .  . 
Moved  by  the  reports  that  are  borne  to  us  of  the 
benign  results  achieved  by  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Associations  of  other  cities,  we  have  spontaneously 
come  up  hither  from  the  various  evangelical  churches 
of  the  city,  without  any  reference  to  sect  or  denomi- 
national preferences,  and  organized  this  association, 
for  the  avowed  purpose,  under  God,  of  rescuing  and 
saving  these  vast  numbers  of  young  men  in  our  city 
from  the  temporal  and  eternal  ruin  to  which  they  are 
exposed      On  the  banner  we  this  night  unfurl  to  the 

II 


12  Early  Days. 


breeze  of  heaven,  is  emblazoned  this  grand  purpose  of 
our  combined  energies,  under  the  Almighty,  'The 
Salvation  of  Young  Men.'  " 

The  organization  of  the  association  here,  as  else- 
where, marked  the  surrender  of  the  prolonged  effort 
to  secure  a  united  church  through  doctrinal  discussion, 
and  the  beginning  of  the  great  movement  to  reach  an 
essential  unity  by  co-operation  in  practical  Chris- 
tian work.  The  association  created  no  new  arena  for 
discussion.  It  assumed,  without  controversy,  the  fun- 
damental truths  of  evangelical  Christianity  and  fur- 
nished an  opportunity  for  a  broad  co-operation  in 
Christian  service. 

The  establishment  of  the  Chicago  association  came 
early  in  the  great  movement  of  which  it  has  since 
been  a  conspicuous  part.  It  was  on  June  6,  1844, 
that  twelve  young  men  met  in  an  upper  room  of  a 
mercantile  house  in  London,  at  the  call  of  George 
Williams,  to  consider  the  advisability  of  forming  a 
"Society  for  improving  the  spiritual  condition  of  young 
men  engaged  in  the  drapery  and  other  trades."  Two 
weeks  later  they  adopted  a  constitution  in  which  the 
new  society  was  called,  "The  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,"  and  its  objects  defined  to  be  "the  im- 
provement of  the  spiritual  condition  of  young  men 
engaged  in  the  drapery  and  other  trades,  by  the  intro- 
duction of  religious  services  among  them."  A  year 
later  the  object  was  stated  to  be  "to  improve  the  spir- 
itual and  mental  condition  of  young  men  in  houses  of 
business."  By  1846  the  object  had  become,  "the 
spiritual  and  mental  improvement  of  young  men,  by 
any  means  in  accordance  with  the  Scriptures." 

The  vast  industrial  revolution  of  our  time  had,  by 
the    middle    of  the   century,    made  the  modern  city  a 


Early  Days.  13 


magnet  of  irresistible  power.  Already  the  endless 
migration  from  the  country  to  the  city,  which  is  trans- 
forming a  rural  to  an  urban  population,  had  com- 
menced. As  Mr.  Doggett,*  in  his  history  of  the 
association,  has  pointed  out,  the  industrial  city  was 
becoming  the  home  of  the  young  men  of  the  protes- 
tant  world.  These  conditions,  with  their  temptations 
to  young  men  living  away  from  home  in  cities,  called 
for  the  association.  It  is  a  product  of  the  modern 
city.  That  a  practical  organization,  "to  extend  the 
kingdom  of  Christ  among  young  men,"  should  rapidly 
extend  itself  to  all  modern  cities,  was  inevitable.  The 
need  which  it  met  was  neither  local  nor  transient,  but 
general  and  permanent.  By  185 1  associations  had 
been  formed  at  eight  points  in  London  and  in  sixteen 
other  cities  in  the  united  kingdom.  In  that  year 
associations  were  founded  in  Montreal  and  Boston. 
These  were  followed  within  the  next  few  years  by 
similar  associations  in  Toronto,  Worcester,  Springfield, 
Buffalo,  New  York,  Washington,  New  London,  Detroit, 
Concord,  New  Orleans,  Baltimore,  Chicago,  Peoria, 
Louisville,  San  Francisco,  and  other  cities.  The  first 
period  in  the  development  of  the  association  on  this 
continent  extends  from  the  organization  of  the  Mon- 
treal and  Boston  associations  in  185 1  to  the  loca- 
tion of  the  international  committee  in  New  York  in 
1866. 

"This  period  of  fifteen  years,  in  spite  of  the  move- 
ment towards  unity  and  the  establishment  of  a  national 
alliance,  in  contrast  with  later  development  must  be 
called  a  period  of  local  effort.     There  was  no  general 

♦History  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  Doggett, 
P-  23. 


14  Early  Days. 


consciousness  of  a  great  national  or  world-wide  move- 
ment."* 

Thus  it  appears  that  the  formation  of  the  Chicago 
association  came  early  in  the  general  movement,  and 
before  the  development  of  the  efficient  advisory  super- 
vision which  has  since  unified  the  associations  every- 
where and  established  a  world-wide  fellowship  among 
Christian  young  men.  It  was  organized  at  the  close 
of  the  great  revival  of  1857,  to  meet  a  pressing  local 
need  of  a  new  city  whose  growth  was  mainly  due  to 
the  coming  of  young  men  from  without.  As  we  have 
seen,  its  founders  were  moved  to  adopt  the  association 
form  of  organization  by  the  reports  that  were  borne 
in  upon  them  "of  the  benign  results  achieved  by 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associations  of  other 
cities." 

The  records  clearly  testify  that  the  founders  of  the 
Chicago  association  realized  something  of  the  import- 
ance of  their  undertaking.  The  steps  resulting  in 
organization  were  taken  with  great  deliberation  and 
with  a  due  sense  of  responsibility."!- 

♦History  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  Doggett, 
p.  106. 

Y' Prefatory  Statement: —  On  the  22d  of  March,  1858,  pursuant 
to  a  call  published  by  a  society  of  young  men,  known  as  'The 
Chicago  Young  Men's  Society  for  Religious  Improvement,' 
in  the  Chicago  daily  papers,  a  large  number  of  young  men 
favorable  to  the  organization  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  in  this  city,  met  at  the  time  and  place  mentioned  in 
•^^he  notice.  The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Mr.  Edward 
Couper,  and  on  motion,  Mr.  John  E.  Rhees  was  appointed  tem- 
porary chairman,  and  Mr.  William  Aitchinson,  Jr.,  secretary. 

"The  meeting  was  formally  opened  by  the  reading  of  the 
Scriptures,  singing,  and  prayer;  after  which,  the  following  reso- 
lution was  unanimously  adopted: 

"  ^Resolved,  That  we  regard  it  expedient  to  organize  a  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  in  this  city,  on  a  similar  basis  with 


PRESIDENTS 

S.  Wells            N.  S.  Bouton       D.  L.  Moody              j.  H.  Hollister       B.  F.  Jacobs 
HN  V.  Farwell  Cyrus  Bentley  Henry  M.  Hubbard  Henry  W.  Fuller  John  V  Farwell  Ir 
M.Henderson  James  L.HouGHTELiNG  T.W.Harvey         E  G  Keith 


Early  Days.  15 


Dr.  J.  H.  HoUister,  who  soon  actively  engaged  in 
the  work,  writes  of  the  "noon  prayer- meeting"  as  a 
spontaneous  expression  of  the  great  religious  awaken- 
ing of  1857,  and  adds:  "This  paved  the  way  and 
made  the  organization  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  possible.  It  seemed  to  some  of  the  pas- 
tors as  a  possible  innovation  upon  established  church 
and  denominational  methods.  But  the  young  men 
of  the  churches  had  clasped  hands  in  Christian  and 
fraternal   fellowship,  and   it  was  idle  to  oppose  their 

methods  so  reasonable  was  their  way It 

was  a  sight  more  novel  then  than  it  would  be  now,  to 
see  such  men  as  Doctor  Humphrey,  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian church.  Doctor  Evarts,  of  the  First  Baptist 
church,  Bishop  Cheney  (then  a  young  man),  and  other 
pastors  with  them,  meeting  upon  a  common  platform 

Young  Men's  Christian  Associations  now  existing  in  the  United 
States  and  British  Provinces.' 

"A  committee  of  seven  persons,  one  from  each  evangelical 
denomination  represented,  was  appointed  to  mature  a  plan  of 
organization,  and  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting.  The  meeting 
then  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  same  place  on  the  evening  of  the 
29th  of  March. 

"On  the  29th  of  March  a  meeting  was  held  pursuant  to  adjourn- 
ment. After  the  opening  devotional  services,  the  committee 
appointed  at  the  last  meeting  reported  through  their  chairman, 
Mr.  John  A.  Nichols,  a  draft  of  a  preamble  and  constitution. 

"The  preamble  was  unanimously  adopted  and  the  constitution 
taken  up  for  discussion  and  adoption,  article  by  article.  The 
debate  upon  the  constitution  continued  through  this  meeting,  and 
meetings  held  on  the  ist,  6th,  12th,  15th,  and  19th  of  April,  on 
which  last  occasion,  the  constitution  subjoined  hereto  was  adopted. 

"At  a  subsequent  meeting,  held  April  26,  the  constitution,  as 
adopted,  was  read  and  signed  by  the  young  men  present. 

"The  officers  of  the  association  were  elected  May  17th,  and 
entered  upon  the  discharge  of  their  duties  at  the  first  annual 
meeting,  June  21st,  suitable  and  convenient  rooms  having  mean- 
time been  prepared  at  205  Randolph  street." — First  Report  of  the 
Chicago  Association. 


1 6  Early  Days. 


to  commend  this  new  work  and  give  to  the  young 
association  expressions  of  their  approval  and  their 
prayers  for  its  success." 

The  new  association,  in  its  first  constitution,  an- 
nounced its  object  to  be  "the  improvement  of  the 
spiritual,  intellectual,  and  social  condition  of  young 
men."  This,  in  its  second  constitution,  became,  "the 
spiritual,  intellectual,  and  social  improvement  of  all 
within  its  reach,  irrespective  of  age,  sex,  or  condition, 
but  especially  of  young  men."  Finally,  in  its  third 
constitution,  it  is  stated  that  "The  object  of  this 
association  shall  be  the  improvement  of  the  spiritual, 
mental,  social,  and  physical  condition  of  young 
men." 

Among  the  first  officers  and  members  of  the  associ- 
ation appear  the  well-known  names  of  Cyrus  Bentley, 
D.  L.  Moody,  W.  C.  Grant,  B.  F.  Jacobs,  A.  L.  Coe, 
John  V.  Farwell,  L,  L.  Bond,  I.  N.  Isham,  P.  L. 
Underwood,  William  H.  Rand,  L.  Z.  Leiter,  H.  J. 
Willing,  Orrington  Lunt,  and  N.  S.  Bouton, 

The  association,  upon  its  organization,  opened  rooms 
at  No.  205  Randolph  street.  Here  was  established 
"a  common  place  of  resort,  to  which  to  invite  the  idle 
and  thoughtless  young  men  of  the  city,  where  they 
may  pass  their  time  pleasantly  and  profitably  in  read- 
ing and  in  intercourse  with  Christian  young  men,  and 
thus  be  brought  under  religious  influences."*  Indeed, 
the  new  organization  very  closely  imitated  the  parent 
association  by  inviting  young  men  "to  a  well  selected 
library,  to  classes  for  mental  culture  under  Christian 
teachers,  and  to  rooms  adapted  to  their  use,  where, 
withdrawn  from  the  temptations  of  ungodly  society, 

♦Inaugural  address  by  President  Cyrus  Bentley,  June  21,  1858. 


L.  Z.  Leiter 
S.  M.  Moore 
F.  G.  Ensign 
Henry  J.  Willing 


EARLV  OFFICIALS 

H.  D.  Penfield 
JLyman  J.  Gage 
E.  W.  Blatchford 
William  Blair 


Orrington  Lunt 
William  H.  Rand 
H.  E.  Sargent 
T.  M.  Avery 


Early  Days.  17 


they  might  spend  their  evenings  in  suitable  com- 
panionship, or  in  pursuit  of  useful  information."* 

Those  responsible  for  the  association  early  became 
convinced  of  the  permanent  character  of  the  work 
upon  which  they  had  entered.  The  General  Assembly 
of  Illinois,  on  the  birthday  of  Washington,  1861,  by 
special  charter  provided  that  "Cyrus  Bentley,  J.  P. 
Babcock,  William  Blair,  E.  S.  Wadsworth,  Tuthill  King, 
Peter  Page,  Orrington  Lunt,  J.  V.  Farwell,  Hugh  T. 
Dickey,  Henry  W.  Hinsdale,  W.  W.  Boyington,  T.  M. 
Eddy,  Robert  Boyd,  and  their  associates,  are  hereby 
created  a  body  corporate,  under  the  name  of  the 
'Young  Men's  Christian  Association,'  and  by  that 
name  shall  be  recognized  .  .  .  .  ,  for  the  term, 
of  one  thousand  years."  This  charter  was  amended 
by  special  act  of  February  21,  1867.  By  the  charter, 
as  amended,  the  association  is  authorized  to  acquire 
and  hold  real  estate  and  personal  property  for  its  cor- 
porate purposes,  exempt  from  taxation.  The  amenda- 
tory act  constituted  T.  M.  Avery,  E.  W.  Blatchford, 
J.  V.  Farwell,  William  L.  Lee,  H.  E.  Sargent,  A.  R. 
Scranton,  E.  B.  McCagg,  Cyrus  H.  McCormick,  H. 
A.  Hurlbut,  George  Armour,  E.  D.  L.  Sweet,  B.  F. 
Jacobs,  and  their  successors,  the  board  of  trustees  of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of  Chicago. 

The  first  constitution  of  the  association  provided  for 
active,  associate,  life,  and  honorary  members.  The 
membership  on  June  21,  1858,  when  what  was  termed 
"the  first  annual  meeting,"  was  held,  was  as  follows: 
Active,  one  hundred  and  fifty-three;  associate,  four- 
teen; life,  thirteen.  Here,  as  generally  elsewhere, 
"the  evangelical  test"  was  applied  to  the  active  or 


*Shipton's  history,  p.  72. 


1 8  Early  Days. 


voting  membership.  The  first  and  second  constitu- 
tions provided  that  "Any  male  member  of  good 
standing  in  any  evangelical  church,  which  holds  the 
doctrine  of  justification  by  faith  in  Christ  alone,  may 
become  an  active  member."  This  was  at  first  limited, 
however,  to  persons  under  forty  years  of  age.  The 
third  constitution  provides  that  "Any  man  over  six- 
teen (i6)  years  of  age,  who  is  a  member  in  good 
standing  of  an  evangelical  church,  may  become  an 
active  member."  The  first  constitution  provided  that 
"Any  man  of  good  moral  character  may  become  an 
associate  member."  The  second  constitution  provided 
that  "Any  man  may  become  an  associate  member." 
The  third  constitution  provides  that  "Any  man  over 
sixteen  (i6)  years  of  age,  who  is  of  good  moral  char- 
acter, may  become  an  associate  member."  The  sec- 
ond constitution  added  an  auxiliary  membership,  under 
which  term  "any  woman"  might  become  a  member 
and  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  associate  members. 
The  third  constitution  dropped  the  life  and  auxiliary 
memberships. 

It  thus  appears  that  the  Chicago  association  was 
organized  on  broad  and  definite  lines.  The  years  that 
have  since  passed  have  witnessed  changes,  experi- 
ments, growth.  Yet  we  can  now  clearly  see  a  more 
than  human  wisdom  in  the  work  of  its  early  days. 
The  association  still  breathes  the  freshness  of  its  first 
beginnings.  While  its  early  definite  purpose,  the  sal- 
vation of  young  men,  was  for  a  time  obscured  by 
efforts  for  the  general  good,  it  was  never  lost.  Through 
experiences  of  fire  and  tumult,  in  the  midst  of  a  mar- 
velous material  development  incident  to  the  city's 
growth  in  population  from  one  hundred  thousand  to  a 
million  and  a  half  within  a  space  of  forty  years,  the 


Early  Days.  ig 


association  has  held  aloft  a  spiritual  ideal  of  trans- 
cendant  value.  We  have  seen  that  on  the  banner 
unfurled  by  the  first  president,  was  emblazoned  its 
purpose,  "The  salvation  of  young  men."  This  ban- 
ner, during  these  forty  years,  has  never  been  furled, 
nor  its  announcement  of  purpose  changed.  Its  words 
are  clearer  and  more  inclusive  now  than  when  pro- 
claimed by  Cyrus  Bentley  in  those  early  days. 


THE    FIRST   PERIOD.     (1858-1888.) 

The  history  of  The  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion  of  Chicago,  may   be   readily  separated   into   two 
periods.     The  first  of  these   includes   the  work  from 
1858  to  the  radical  change  to  the  metropolitan  plan  in 
1888.     A  glance  at  the  population  of  Chicago,  at  differ- 
ent periods,*  will  show  the  rapid  changes  in  the  needs 
of  the    city   as    it  grew  from  a  village  to  a  metropolis. 
Means  which  were  fully  adequate  in  the  early  days 
became   antiquated  and  insufficient  as   time  advanced 
and    population    increased.       Every    form    of   human 
activity  in  a  place  where  changes  were  so  rapid  as  in 
Chicago  had  to  be  subject  to  frequent  re-arrangement. 
Enterprises  which  did  not  keep  up  with  the  spirit  of 
the  times,  had  to  be  content  to  lag  behind  and  event- 
ually to  lose  their  places  in  the  community.     We  must 
not,  however,  undervalue   the   early   work   because   it 
was  done  by  different  methods  from  those  we  now 
employ.     We  should  rather  be  thankful  for  the  con- 
secrated  efforts  of  the   men  who  did  each  year  that 
which   their  hands   found  to  do,  and  who  did  it  with 
wisdom  and  zeal  inspired  by  love  for  God  and  man. 
There  existed  in  Chicago,  before  the  revival  of  1858, 
several  social  and  literary  associations.     At  least  one 
of  these,  the  Library  Association,  had  a  considerable 
membership  of  Christian  young  men.     These  associa- 

*  Appendix. 

20 


The  First  Period.  21 

tions  gradually  disappeared  and  in  their  places  grew 
up  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  The  first 
rooms  occuped  by  the  association  were  at  205  Ran- 
dolph street.  In  April,  1858,  the  committee  on  rooms 
rented  convenient  quarters  in  the  Methodist  church 
block,  southeast  corner  of  Washington  and  Clark 
streets.  The  work  prospered  from  the  first  and  the 
association  soon  found  itself  deeply  interested  in  every 
good  work  connected  with  the  city.  Apart  from  the 
ever-pressing  needs  connected  with  the  religious  life 
of  the  city,  it  became  the  recognized  center  for  all 
kinds  of  active  work. 

The  lyceum  lecture  system  was  beginning  to  be 
recognized  as  a  great  power,  and  the  association  took 
advantage  of  this  circumstance  to  bring  to  the  city 
lecturers  of  national  reputation  whose  influence  was 
always  for  good.  The  relief  funds  of  the  city,  because 
of  the  lack  of  any  other  organized  means  of  distribu- 
tion, were  turned  over  to  the  association,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  its  committees  looked  after  the  interests  of 
the  many  suffering  poor,  worthy  and  unworthy,  who, 
even  at  this  early  day,  pressed  to  the  city  in  un- 
due numbers.  The  association  was  also  the  head- 
quarters for  social  Christian  work,  uniting  with  the 
churches  in  their  efforts  to  furnish  a  halting  place  for 
the  multitudes  of  young  men  who  were  constantly 
attracted  here  by  hope  of  profitable  employment. 
Many  of  these  young  men,  then  as  now,  found  the 
realization  of  their  hopes  and  ambitions  extremely 
difficult.  Daily  encouragement  and  assistance  has 
been  given  from  the  association  during  all  these  forty 
years,  and  many  interesting  accounts  might  be  given 
of  men  who  were  saved  to  themselves  and  to  the  world 
by   the   sympathetic  words   of  the  wise   and  devoted 


22  The  First  Period. 

men  who  have  served  on  the  committees  or  as  super- 
intendents and  secretaries  in  connection  with  this 
important  work. 

The  Sabbath  question  was  one  that  was  considered 
seriously  and  constantly,  and  efforts  were  regularly 
made  to  diminish,  so  far  as  possible,  the  desecration 
of  the  Lord's  day.  Efforts  were  also  made  to  find 
occupation  for  unemployed  men,  and  to  provide  busi- 
ness men  with  such  help  as  they  might  need. 

The  association  has  always  been  the  natural  enemy 
of  intemperance  in  all  its  forms,  and  especially 
opposed  to  the  influence  of  the  saloon.  It  is  probably 
far  within  bounds  to  say  that  by  no  other  influence 
have  so  many  young  men  been  kept  from  the  ruinous 
indulgence  of  their  appetites  as  by  the  association. 
This  has  been  accomplished,  not  only  by  pointing  out 
the  inevitable  harm  to  character  that  results  from  the 
associations  of  the  saloon  to  all  who  came  under  its 
influence,  but  by  providing  wholesome  social  recre- 
ation and  occupation  for  young  men  outside  their 
hours  of  labor.  In  this  way  thousands  have  been 
saved  from  most  insidious  temptations,  and  many 
others  who  had  lost  their  self-respect  and  power  for 
usefulness,  have  been  restored  to  the  community  as 
Christian  men. 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  many  opportunities,  the  war 
of  the  rebellion  came.  The  association  promptly 
showed  that  even  war  may  have  its  humanitarian  and 
Christian  side.  The  army  committee  was  organized 
and  continued  its  activities  during  the  whole  of  the 
great  conflict.  Under  the  chairmanship  of  J.  V.  Far- 
well,  it  even  went  so  far  as  to  raise  companies  for  a 
distinctively  Christian  regiment.  Members  of  the 
association  visited  the   Southern    prisoners    at  Camp 


The  First  Period.  23 

Douglas  and  preached  to  them  the  gospel  of  peace. 
The  work  of  the  sanitary  commission  was  generously- 
supported.  The  work  of  the  United  States  Christian 
Commission,  which  was  inaugurated  by  the  New  York 
association,  was  strongly  supported  by  the  association 
here.  All  the  agencies  within  its  power,  whether  for 
upholding  the  union  cause  or  for  mitigating  the  hor- 
rors of  war,  were  fully  employed.  Its  literature  was 
in  every  camp,  and  its  representatives  were  to  be 
found  on  every  battlefield. 

The  pastors  of  various  churches  and  others  inter- 
ested in  the  city  tract  work  in  1862,  requested  the 
association  to  assume  charge  of  the  distribution  of 
religious  tracts  and  other  papers  in  the  city,  and  to 
select  or  publish  the  necessary  tracts  or  papers  in  con- 
nection with  a  committee  consisting  of  Rev.  Doctor 
Evarts  (Baptist);  Professor  Fisk  (Congregational); 
Rev.  Doctor  Pratt  (Episcopal);  Rev.  T.  M.  Eddy 
(Methodist);  Rev.  A.  Swazey  (Presbyterian);  Rev. 
Robert  Patterson  (Scotch  Presbyterian).  The  con- 
stitution of  this  committee  shows  how  the  work  of  the 
association  had  become  an  aid  to  the  work  of  the 
churches,  and  how  readily  many  of  the  pastors  of 
diverse  creeds  united  in  its  work. 

The  constitution  of  the  association  was  amended  in 
1863  so  that  women  might  become  auxiliary  life 
members  by  the  payment  of  five  dollars  each.  This 
action  had  many  things  in  its  favor  at  the  time,  and 
the  Ladies'  Auxiliary  for  many  years  was  of  great 
assistance  to  the  work  of  the  association.  In  later 
years  their  valuable  aid  has  been  secured  without  the 
privileges  of  membership. 

The  subject  of  procuring  a  permanent  building  and 
grounds  as  a  home  for  the  association  occupied  the 


24  The  First  Period. 

serious  attention  of  the  board  of  managers  in  1864, 
and  a  special  committee  consisting  of  B.  F.  Jacobs, 
P.  L.  Underwood,  Charles  Covell,  and  D.  L.  Moody, 
was  appointed  with  instructions  to  inquire  on  what 
terms  grounds  could  be  purchased,  and  in  regard  to 
the  feasibility  of  erecting  a  suitable  building.  As  a 
result  of  this  movement,  the  first  building  of  the 
association  was  dedicated  at  148  Madison  street  in 
1867.  A  full  account  of  the  several  buildings  of  the 
association  is  reserved  for  the  chapter  on  "Buildings." 

The  association  undertook,  in  1866,  through  its 
boarding-house  committee,  the  establishment  of  a 
boarding-house  for  women  at  532  West  Madison 
street.  In  the  same  year  P.  L.  Underwood  was 
requested  to  prepare  a  petition  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  state  in  the  name  of  the  association  for  the 
establishment  in  Chicago  of  a  Board  of  Health  similar 
to  that  in  New  York  city.  The  law  committee  was 
also  in  that  year  requested  to  make  preliminary  in- 
quiries and  investigations  toward  overcoming  the  evils 
resulting  from  the  violation  of  the  Sunday  liquor  laws. 

The  library  committee  was  instructed,  in  1875,  to 
place  in  the  library  two  sets  of  chessmen,  accessible 
to  any  who  might  desire  to  use  them  there.  This  is 
the  first  mention  of  games  in  the  rooms  of  the  associ- 
ation. Since  that  time  one  of  the  duties  of  the  proper 
committee  has  been  to  provide  suitable  games  for  all 
who  desire  to  play  them.  These  games  have  proved 
very  attractive,  and  have  kept  many  young  men 
pleasantly  occupied  at  times  when  idleness  would 
have  exposed  them  to  special  temptations. 

The  following  extracts  from  letters  written  by  Dr. 
J.  H.  HolHster  and  Major  D.  W.  Whittle,  give  clear 
pictures  of  the  work  of  the  early  days,  and  show  the 


1^  ?-%/ZJ3.  'i£Jp&^ 


FIRST  FARWELL  HALL 


The  First  Period.  25 


spirit  in  which  all  of  the  plans  of  the  association  were 
undertaken  and  carried  out. 

Doctor  Hollister,  under  date  of  March  15,  1898, 
writes: 

"I  became  a  resident  of  Chicago  April  11,  1855. 
Its  population  at  the  close  of  1854  was  sixty-five 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-two.  The  whole 
west  was  everywhere  wild  with  speculation  until  the 
financial  crash  of  1857.  Men  stood  aghast  as  they 
suddenly  found  themselves  penniless  and  without 
employment.  Then  came  that  wonderful  religious 
revival  which  swept  all  over  this  country  and  across 
the  Atlantic. 

"The  churches  were  filled  with  anxious  and  penitent 
hearers.  The  noon  prayer-meeting  in  1857  and  1858 
was  a  spontaneous  expression  of  the  religious  awaken- 
ing which  was  everywhere  felt.  Old  "Metropolitan 
Hall, "corner  of  La  Salle  and  Randolph  streets,  was 
daily  crowded  to  its  last  bit  of  standing  room,  at  the 
noon-day  prayer-meeting.  Its  meetings  were  led 
sometimes  by  pastors,  often  by  laymen.  All  pro- 
testants  united  in  this  common  and  continuous  revival 
meeting. 

"This  union  of  Christians  paved  the  way  for  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  and  made  its 
organization  possible.  It  seemed  to  some  of  the 
pastors  a  possible  innovation  upon  established  church 
and  denominational  methods.  But  the  young  men  of 
the  churches  had  clasped  hands  in  Christian  and 
fraternal  fellowship,  and  it  was  idle  to  oppose  their 
methods,  so  reasonable  was  their  way. 

"Steadily  the  influence  grew  and  gained  in  favor 
with  pastors  and  with  the  people.  The  years  1859  to 
1 86 1,  were  tempestuous  times.     Civil  war,  with  all  its 


26  The  First  Period. 

horrors,  was  precipitated.  In  the  midst  of  the  tumult, 
the  voice  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
was  heard.  Young  men  by  scores  went  from  its  prayer 
rooms  to  the  battlefields.  The  infusion  of  Christian 
life  into  the  ranks  of  the  regiments  was  wonderful. 
Officers  high  in  rank  turned  to  the  association  and  asked 
them  to  select  their  chaplains.  All  through  the  war, 
in  close  touch  with  every  battlefield  and  soldiers' 
hospital,  the  fervent  prayers  and  willing  labors  of  our 
young  men  were  given  for  the  church  of  Christ  and  a 
united  country. 

"More  prominent  during  these  eventful  years  than 
any  other,  in  the  work  of  the  association,  was  Dwight 
L.  Moody.  Closely  related  to  him  was  John  V.  Far- 
well.  Along  with  these  were  Cyrus  Bentley,  B.  F. 
Jacobs,  P.  L.  Underwood,  and  E.  S.  Wells.  Of  course, 
scores  of  others  belong  to  those  heroic  days. 

"The  annual  meetings  of  the  association  during  the 
early  years  of  its  history  were  eventful  gatherings.  It 
was  a  sight  more  novel  then  than  it  would  be  now  to 
see  such  men  as  Doctor  Humphrey,  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian church.  Doctor  Evarts,  of  the  First  Baptist 
church.  Bishop  Cheney  (then  a  young  man),  and  other 
pastors  with  them,  meeting  upon  a  common  platform 
to  commend  this  new  work  and  give  to  the  young 
association  expressions  of  their  approval,  and  their 
prayers  for  its  success.  The  association  was  ever  the 
dutiful  child  of  the  church,  and  always  loyal  to  it. 

"If  I  were  to  speak  of  the  most  successful  work  of 
the  association,  I  would  say:  First,  in  importance  has 
been  its  good  influence  upon  young  men.  Second,  its 
maintenance  of  the  noon-day  prayer-meeting,  helpful 
to  so  many.  Third,  its  spiritual  power  going  into  the 
churches    and    families.     Fourth,    a    development    of 


THIRD  FARWELL  HALL 


The  First  Period.  27 

brotherhood  and  fellowship  among  the  churches,  which 
was  before  unknown.  Fifth,  a  rescue  for  the  stranger 
and  the  homeless.  Sixth,  an  avenue  to  rational  enjoy- 
ments and  athletic  sports.  Seventh,  the  preaching, 
by  object-lessons  of  various  kinds,  of  applied  Chris- 
tianity." 

Major  D.  W.  Whittle,  under  date  of  March  14,  1898, 
writes: 

"I  came  to  Chicago  April  i,  1857.  There  was  then 
no  association  in  the  city.  I  wish  there  had  been;  it 
would  have  been  a  help  to  me.  I  met  on  the  first 
Sunday  I  was  in  the  city,  two  men  who  had  much  to 
do  in  the  forming  of  the  association,  and  in  getting 
me  into  it,  B.  F.  Jacobs  and  Cyrus  Bentley.  One 
was  the  superintendent  of  the  First  Baptist  Sunday 
School,  and  the  other  the  teacher  of  the  young  men's 
Bible  class  which  I  joined  a  few  weeks  later.  I 
attended  the  Congregational  church.  Rev.  W.  W.  Pat- 
ton,  pastor,  and  joined  Dr.  J.  H.  Hollister's  Bible  class. 

"I  well  remember  the  first  reception  held  by  Doctor 
Hollister,  as  president  of  the  association,  in  one  of  the 
rooms  of  the  M.  E.  church  building,  corner  of  Clark 
and  Washington  streets,  and  the  pleasant  impression 
made  upon  me  (I  was  then  unconverted)  by  the  cordial- 
ity and  kind  interest  shown  in  the  young  men  by  the 
Christian  men  who  were  present.  Upon  my  conversion, 
in  i860,  I  became  an  active  member  of  the  association, 
and  was  often  present  at  the  noon  meetings,  held  in 
the  M.  E.  church  building. 

"Mr.  Moody  was  the  active  man  in  those  days,  and 
gave  much  time  to  the  building  up  of  the  association. 
John  V.  Farwell,  B.  F.  Jacobs,  F.  M.  Rockwell,  and 
Deacon  Hoyt,  are  among  those  connected  with  the 
noon-day  meetings  of   i860  and    1861,  whom  I  recall. 


28  The  First  Period. 

In  1862  I  was  a  member  of  a  band  of  association 
men  in  raising  a  regiment  for  the  war.  William  Hol- 
brook,  Henry  C.  Mowry,  James  Sexton,  P.  L.  Under- 
wood, Benjamin  W.  Underwood,  David  W.  Perkins, 
Henry  French,  Jacob  S.  Curtiss,  Porter  Ransom,  and 
Isaac  Haney  were  those  I  remember  of  this  company. 
The  majority  of  them  are  not  now  living.  We  were 
authorized  by  the  war  committee  of  the  association 
to  recruit  men  under  its  auspices.  We  raised  in  a 
short  time  five  companies  and  could  have  raised  five 
companies  more,  but  were  consolidated  with  five  com- 
panies raised  by  the  board  of  trade.  We  organized 
as  the  Seventy-second  Illinois  Infantry,  and  hurried 
to  the  front.  Many  of  the  men  of  our  regiment  were 
Christians;  many  became  Christians  during  their  army 
life.  After  the  resignation  of  our  Chaplain,  Rev.  Henry 
E.  Barnes,  in  1863,  we  organized  a  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  for  the  regiment,  and  under  its 
auspices  and  by  its  officers  and  members,  the  religious 
wants  of  the  regiment  were  cared  for  during  the  rest  of 
the  war.  We  found  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation well  adapted  to  army  conditions  and  needs. 

"The  original  association  was  an  outgrowth  of  the 
great  revival  of  1857  and  1858,  and  is  connected  in 
my  memory  with  the  impressive  manifestations  of  the 
spirit  of  God  that  were  witnessed  in  those  days,  and, 
in  later  days,  with  the  revival  scenes  of  1873- 1876, 
when  Moody  and  Sankey  led  our  forces,  and  when 
Miss  Willard,  Major  Cole,  P.  P.  Bliss,  John  W.  Dean, 
and  others,  commenced  their  work  for  Christ  in  Far- 
well  Hall,  and  from  there  went  out  over  the  world." 

The  interests  which  engaged  the  attention  of  the 
association  gradually  became  so  various  that  it  was 
evident  that  the  line  must  be  sharply  drawn  between 


JAMES  L.  HOUGHTELING 


The  First  Period.  29 

the  work  for  young  men  and  all  other  work.  No 
other  means  of  doing  the  work  for  which  the  associa- 
tion was  founded  could  be  devised,  and  happily  there 
was  no  need  that  any  should  be  desired.  The  associ- 
ation had  stood  for  years  for  everything  that  was 
good.  In  its  desire  to  help,  it  had  made  the  mistakes 
into  which  generous  impulses  lead  individuals  ;  it  had 
helped  everybody,  and  some  of  its  beneficiaries  had 
proved  unworthy.  It  had  listened  to  everyone  who 
had  a  progressive  idea  or  a  thought  for  his  fellow  men 
and  so  it  had  listened  at  times  to  visionaries.  It  had 
pushed  forward  in  every  movement  that  promised  to 
be  good,  and  had  sometimes  been  deceived.  In  the 
meantime  the  association  had  passed  from  infancy  to 
manhood,  strengthened  by  its  struggles,  and  was  be- 
ginning to  realize  what  possibilities  the  growth  of  the 
city  and  the  new  conditions  of  life  had  placed  in  its 
way. 

The  election  of  James  L.  Houghteling  to  the  pre- 
sidency in  1882,  proved  to  be  a  long  step  toward  a 
more  definite  work.  The  city  had  become  too  large 
for  the  association  to  do  all  the  work,  so  it  began  to 
restrict  itself  to  its  original  purpose.  The  welfare  of 
young  men  again  became  its  one  concern.  To  keep 
them  from  evil,  to  win  them  to  be  Christian  gentle- 
men, industrious  workmen,  good  citizens,  loyal  to 
their  homes  and  the  church,  more  and  more  became 
the  purpose  of  its  committees,  leaders,  and  officers. 

It  was  during  Mr.  Houghteling's  presidency  that 
JohnV.  Farwell,  Jr.,  and  Cyrus  H.  McCormick,  first  ac- 
tively engaged  in  the  work  of  the  association.  From 
that  day  to  this  these  three  able  and  devoted  men 
have  led  in  rounding  out  the  association  by  adding  to 
its  strong  spiritual  work,  social,  intellectual,  and  phy- 


30  The  First  Period. 

sical  activities.  Under  their  guidance  one  general 
agency  for  good  after  another  has  been  removed  from 
the  association  and  established  as  an  independent 
Christian  enterprise.  This  has  made  the  association 
strong  and  definite  without  impairing  the  efificiency 
of  other  agencies  for  good.  It  has  not  been  accom- 
plished by  chance,  but  by  the  constant  effort  and  self- 
sacrifice  of  these  efificient  leaders  and  those  who  have 
been   associated  with  them  in  the  work. 

The  devotion  and  active  participation  of  practical 
and  successful  men  in  a  good  cause  leads  other  men 
to  believe  in  it  and  to  put  themselves  in  an  attitude  to 
be  blessed  by  it.  That  to  which  men  give  most 
thought,  attention,  effort,  as  a  rule,  is  that  to  which 
they  adhere  with  greatest  loyalty.  The  association 
work  is  no  exception  to  the  rule,  for  its  closest  and 
best  friends  now  continue  to  be  those  whose  time  and 
money  and  efforts  have  been  most  freely  given  to  it 
in  the  past.  That  consecration  to  this  work,  as  to  all 
good  work,  has  brought  its  own  blessings  in  most 
unexpected  and  providential  ways.  The  presidents 
of  the  association,  the  trustees,  the  managers,  the  sec- 
retaries, the  committeemen,  during  all  these  years 
have  been  thankful  to  God  that  He  has  made  such 
work  a  possible  part  of  life  in  Chicago,  and  that  it  has 
been  their  privilege  to  participate  in  it. 

The  work  has  so  developed  that  specialized  agencies 
are  now  doing  what  the  association  for  a  time  under- 
took. The  relief  work,  in  which  for  years  the  asso- 
ciation was  so  prominent,  is  now  cared  for  by  the 
Relief  and  Aid  Society,  and  by  the  efforts  of  organ- 
ized charity.  The  city  mission  work  is  committed  to 
the  various  churches  and  the  church  societies  to  which 
it  properly  belongs.     The  Young  Women's  Christian 


The  First  Period.  31 

Association  has  a  work  as  thoroughly  adapted  to  the 
needs  of  women  as  the  work  of  this  association  is  to 
those  of  men,  and  an  auxiliary  membership  for  women 
in  the  association  is  no  longer  required.  The  literary 
work,  pure  and  simple,  has  been  taken  up  by  others; 
and,  now  that  the  lyceum  bureau  has  been  superseded 
by  managers,  the  eminent  speakers  of  the  world  come 
to  our  city  under  other  auspices.  Much  of  the  mis- 
cellaneous social  work  formerly  undertaken  by  the 
association,  has  found  a  more  suitable  place  in  the 
institutional  and  other  work  of  the  churches.  The 
sanitary  and  Christian  commissions  happily  had  no 
reason  for  continuance  after  the  close  of  the  war.  The 
growth  of  denominational  and  miscellaneous  evangel- 
istic literature  has  rendered  unnecessary  the  earlier 
work  of  the  association  in  its  publication  and  circula- 
tion. 

Chicago  has  become  a  cosmopolitan  city  in  which 
definiteness  of  aim  and  specialization  of  effort  are 
required.  As  the  real  place  of  the  association  became 
clear,  the  fields  of  other  efforts  also  became  so,  and  it 
and  they  were  able  to  develop  into  special  agencies. 

While,  as  we  have  seen,  the  association  for  a  time 
became  a  center  for  the  general  religious  and  phi- 
lanthropic work  of  the  city,  the  fact  must  not  be  over- 
looked that  it  never  lost  sight  of  its  original  pur- 
pose. This  appears  in  its  statement  of  objects  in 
the  second  constitution, — "the  spiritual,  intellectual, 
and  social  improvement  of  all  within  its  reach,  irre- 
spective of  age,  sex,  or  condition,  but  especially  of 
young  men."  Here  the  young  men,  though  reserved 
for  the  last  clause,  are  given  special  attention.  Their 
importance  as  a  class,  their  need  of  salvation,  were 
ever  present  to  the  minds  of  the  consecrated  men  who 


32  The  First  Period. 

directed  the  association  through  its  period  of  early 
growth  and  transition.  While  the  association  did 
much  else,  it  also  did  much  for  young  men.  The 
noon-day  meeting  and  the  other  religious  services 
were  conducted  largely  with  a  view  to  their  spiritual 
needs  and  to  bring  them  to  Christ.  To  attract  and 
hold  them  was  the  main  purpose  in  the  introduction 
of  the  gymnasium  and  other  "secular  agencies,"  which 
were  for  a  time  regarded  with  suspicion  by  some  of 
the  best  friends  of  the  association. 

The  spirit  of  prayer,  upon  which  the  emphasis  was 
placed  from  the  beginning,  has,  during  these  forty 
successful  years,  remained  the  prevailing  spirit  of  the 
association.  Whatever  else  has  engrossed  the  atten- 
tion of  the  members,  the  noon  prayer-meeting  has 
never  been  displaced.  Even  when,  in  1868,  fire 
destroyed  the  first  building  of  the  association,  the 
noon  prayer-meeting  was  held  as  usual;  and  Heavenly 
wisdom  was  sought  in  the  midst  of  calamity.  When 
the  second  building  was  destroyed  in  the  great  fire  of 
1 87 1,  the  disaster  which  for  the  moment  seemed  irrep- 
arable did  not  prevent  the  usual  assembly  for  prayer. 
The  association  has  always  contained  men  who  believe 
in  God  under  all  circumstances;  and  they  have  given 
constant  proof  to  the  world  of  what  God  had  done  for 
them,  and  of  what  they  believe  He  will  do  for  others. 
The  association  stands  to-day  a  monument  of  prayer- 
directed  effort.  Its  work  has  far  surpassed  the  fondest 
expectations  of  its  founders,  and  will  continue  to  grow 
as  long  as  there  are  consecrated  men  to  work  and 
souls  to  save. 

Mr.  F.  G.  Ensign  writes:  "The  principal  feature 
of  the  work  during  the  early  years  was  the  daily 
prayer-meeting,  and  the  religious  efforts  growing  out 


< 
r 

X 

> 
r 
r 

z 

H 
W 

o 

5S 


The  First  Period.  33 

of  it.  The  fervor  of  the  brethren  who  led  and  took 
part  in  the  daily  meetings  was  inspiring,  and  the 
meeting  itself  was  a  sort  of  rallying  place  for  the  men 
and  women  who  were  occupied  in  the  various  lines  of 
Christian  effort  in  the  city.  Mr.  Moody  was  the  lead- 
ing spirit  and  gathered  about  him  a  band  of  men  who 
were  winners  of  souls.  The  very  atmosphere  of  the 
rooms  of  the  association  was  one  of  prayer  and  praise. 

Although  the  appointments  were  very  modest  and 
plain,  the  spirit  of  those  who  met  in  those  daily  serv- 
ices was  one  of  remarkable  consecration." 

The  services  of  Dwight  L.  Moody,  in  the  early  days 
of  the  association,  were  of  inestimable  value;  and  his 
influence  has  remained  during  all  these  later  years  as 
a  benediction.  From  1861  until  1870,  no  man  was  so 
constant  and  persistent  in  the  work  as  was  Mr.  Moody. 
He  gave  to  it  the  first  labors  of  his  early  days  and  the 
ripe  thoughts  of  his  mature  years.  A  well-known 
business  man,  in  whose  store  Mr.  Moody  was  once 
employed,  said:  "Mr.  Moody  would  make  quite  a 
good  clerk  if  he  had  not  so  many  other  things  on  his 
hands."  Those  "other  things"  were  the  eternal  inter- 
ests of  his  fellow  men;  and  such  a  spirit  as  his  could 
not  long  be  confined  even  by  the  bonds  that  hold 
most  men  to  the  appointed  tasks  by  which  they  earn 
their  daily  bread.  With  an  enthusiasm  that  could  not 
be  dampened,  and  an  energy  which  never  abated,  Mr. 
Moody  pursued  his  arrow-straight  course.  What  he 
has  done  for  communities  and  for  nations  in  these 
later  years,  he  did  for  the  association  in  its  early 
days.  It  would  be  impossible  to  estimate  his  useful- 
ness to  the  association,  or  to  catalogue  the  details  of 
his  successful  work.  The  association  claims  him  as 
its  greatest  single  champion,  and  honors  him  for  the 


34  The  First  Period. 

work  that  he  did  while  here  not  less  than  for  the  work 
for  the  world's  evangelization  which  he  has  since  pur- 
sued with  such  success.  It  rejoices  that  one  whose 
training  was  in  part  obtained  in  its  service,  should  be 
so  manifestly  called  of  God  to  the  great  work  in  which 
he  has  since  engaged. 

Other  workers  in  the  same  field  during  the  first 
period  have  given  the  association  consecrated  service, 
and  like  Mr.  Moody  have  themselves  been  blessed  in 
rendering  it.  The  names  of  Frank  M.  Rockwell,  W. 
W.  Vanarsdale,  and  A.  T.  Hemingway,  the  other 
general  secretaries  of  the  association  prior  to  1888, 
stand  for  all  that  is  patient,  effective,  and  consecrated 
in  Christian  work.  Each,  in  turn,  met  the  conditions 
of  his  time,  and  the  association  owes  and  pays  to  them 
a  constant  recognition  of  merited  honor. 

During  the  service  of  Mr.  Rockwell,  from  1866 
until  after  the  great  fire,  new  problems  were  constantly 
arising  on  account  of  the  new  and  confused  condition 
of  the  city.  To  the  solution  of  these  problems 
Mr.  Rockwell  gave  himself  with  untiring  energy  and 
with  marked  success. 

Within  Mr.  Vanarsdale's  term  of  service  the  asso- 
ciation sold  its  publishing  business  to  Mr.  F.  H. 
Revell.  This  had  grown  to  considerable  proportions. 
It  was  also  during  this  time  that  the  association  paper 
was  started  by  Mr.  Vanarsdale. 

Mr.  Hemingway  was  appointed  secretary  in  1878, 
and  continued  his  work  with  a  slight  interruption  until 
the  close  of  1887.  During  this  important  period  Mr. 
Hemingway  won  the  confidence  of  his  associates  and 
of  the  business  men  of  the  city  by  his  devoted  and 
self-sacrificing  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  work,  and  by 
his  never   failing  sympathy    with    young    men.      Mr. 


■^r'fS^"''^'  -sr-w  :^ 


W.  \V.  Vanarsdale 


GENERAL  SECRETARIES 

F.  M.  Rockwell 
L.  Wilbur  Messer 


A.  T.  Hemingway 


The  First  Period,  35 

Hemingway  did  much  to  increase  the  membership  and 
the  financial  constituency  of  the  association.  As  we 
have  seen,  progress  was  also  made  during  his  adminis- 
tration in  the  direction  of  a  more  definite  work  for 
young  men. 

The  closing  years  of  this  period  prepared  the  way 
for  the  great  step  in  advance  involved  in  the  reorgan- 
ization and  extension  under  what  is  known  as  the 
metropolitan  plan.  The  city  more  than  doubled  its 
population  in  the  decade  between  1880  and  1890. 
The  plans  and  equipment  which  had  served  for  a  city 
of  less  than  a  half  million  souls,  were  more  and  more 
felt  to  be  insufficient  as  the  city  rapidly  increased  its 
population.  In  the  midst  of  vast  material  advances, 
the  need  of  greater  specialization  and  better  organiza- 
tion of  the  spiritual  forces  of  the  city  became  apparent. 
The  association,  in  common  with  the  other  spiritual 
agencies  of  the  city,  gradually  responded  to  its  grow- 
ing needs.  The  movement  was  in  part  conscious,  in 
part  due  to  changing  conditions.  It  was  wholly  pro- 
vidential. 

Thus  the  association,  at  the  close  of  its  first  period, 
looked  back  upon  thirty  busy  years,  within  which 
Chicago  had  grown  from  a  raw  provincial  community 
of  one  hundred  thousand  people  to  a  metropolitan  city 
of  a  million  souls.  It  cherished  the  memory  of  a 
unique  and  successful  co-operation  in  Christian  work 
by  many  men  of  differing  views,  who  came  together 
from  the  four  corners  of  the  world  to  unite  their 
energies  in  building  an  imperial  city  within  a  single 
generation.  It  cherished  as  its  own  an  untarnished 
and  precious  record  of  Christian  service,  performed 
by  many  noble  souls  under  conditions  of  difficulty  not 
elsewhere   known.     It   held   aloft,  in  the  presence  of 


36  The  First  Period. 

vast  material  interests,  a  spiritual  ideal.  It  held  and 
taught  that  character  is  more  than  possessions,  that 
the  things  which  are  eternal  are  unseen. 

Thus  trained  and  equipped  by  the  successful  experi- 
ences of  thirty  years,  thus  inspired  by  noble  memories 
and  purposes,  the  association,  at  the  beginning  of 
1888,  faced  the  larger  and  more  definite  work  to 
which  it  was  called  of  God. 


THE   SECOND   PERIOD.    (1888-1898.) 

The  year  1888  is  a  memorable  one  in  the  history  of 
the  Chicago  association.  Within  its  early  months, 
L.  Wilbur  Messer,  a  man  of  rare  qualifications  and 
special  fitness,  became  general  secretary  of  the  asso- 
ciation. At  its  close  the  movement  for  a  more 
definite  work,  which,  as  we  have  seen,  began  several 
years  earlier,  culminated  in  the  metropolitan  organi- 
zation. 

The  association  then  consisted  of  the  central  and 
four  railroad  departments.  The  railroad  departments 
were  weak  and  without  adequate  equipment.  Farwell 
Hall,  the  only  building  then  owned  by  the  organiza- 
tion, was  equipped  for  mission  effort  rather  than  asso- 
ciation work.  The  paid  membership  was  less  than 
two  thousand.  Women  were  still  eligible  to  member- 
ship. While  much  progress  toward  specialization  had 
been  made,  the  association  still  maintained  mixed 
meetings,  a  Sunday  school  for  the  Chinese,  and  street 
and  jail  meetings,  and  carried  on  much  miscellaneous 
work.  Farwell  Hall  was  yet  a  center  of  many  forms 
of  Christian  activity.  Indeed,  more  than  a  dozen  out- 
side organizations  were  still  at  home  in  its  rooms,  with 
no  thought  of  contributing  to  its  expenses.  The  asso- 
ciation had  so  long  served  as  the  foster  mother  to 
every  good  cause  that  some  of  them  claimed  the 
rights  of  children  in  Farwell  Hall,  the  family  home- 
stead.    The  process  of  leading  these  to  regard  them- 

37 


38  The  Second  Period. 

selves  of  age  was  a  slow  and  somewhat  painful  one; 
but  it  was  finally  accomplished. 

The  revision  of  the  constitution  late  in  1888,  placed 
the  association  on  a  definite  basis  and  inaugurated  the 
metropolitan  plan  of  organization.  This  plan  does 
not  change  the  relation  of  the  board  of  trustees  to  the 
association.  Their  authority  over  its  property  is  fixed 
by  the  charter  and  remains  as  before.  Prior  to  its 
adoption  the  board  of  managers  exercised  direct  con- 
trol over  all  the  work,  and  was  responsible  for  its 
conduct  Under  the  metropolitan  plan  the  board  of 
managers  consists  of  twenty-one  representatives  of 
evangelical  denominations,  who  serve  for  three  years, 
one  third  of  them  retiring  each  year.  The  principal 
functions  of  this  important  body  may  be  briefly  stated. 
It  is  charged  with  the  direction  of  the  general  policy 
of  the  association,  the  general  supervision  of  all 
departments,  the  organization  of  new  departments,  the 
adjustment  of  the  relations  of  the  departments  to  the 
general  body  and  to  each  other,  the  control  of  inter- 
department  athletics,  the  receipt  and  disbursement  of 
all  funds,  the  procurement  of  secretaries  and  physical 
directors,  the  promotion  and  introduction  of  advanced 
methods,  the  direct  management  of  the  central  build- 
ing, and  the  control  of  the  relations  of  the  association 
with  the  world-wide  brotherhood.  It  now  employs,  to 
direct  this  work,  the  general  secretary,  an  assistant 
general  secretary,  and  three  office  assistants.  Some 
idea  of  the  extent  of  the  office  work  done  is  indicated 
by  the  fact  that  in  1897  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and 
forty-four  thousand  six  hundred  and  seventy-one 
dollars  passed  through  the  general  office  of  the  asso- 
ciation. 

The  metropolitan  plan  introduced  a  great  change  in 


JOHN  V.  FARVVELL,  Jr. 


The  Second  Period.  39 

the  direct  management  of  the  work.  What  had  been 
the  Chicago  association  became  the  central  depart- 
ment, the  principal  one  of  several  departments,  each 
of  which  was  placed  under  its  own  committee  of  man- 
agement acting  under  the  general  supervision  of 
the  board  of  managers.  The  new  constitution  states 
the  object  of  the  association  to  be  "the  improvement 
of  the  spiritual,  mental,  social,  and  physical  condition 
of  young  men."  It  limits  the  membership  to  men. 
Provision  is  made  for  active,  associate  and  honorary 
membership.  It  will  be  remembered  that  under  the 
second  constitution  women  were  admitted  as  "auxili- 
ary" members,  and  that  both  men  and  women  were 
admitted  to  life  membership.  The  new  constitution 
also  requires  applicants  for  membership  in  the  associ- 
ation to  be  over  sixteen  years  of  age.  The  entire 
paid  membership  is  now  about  six  thousand,  being 
nearly  three  times  what  it  was  ten  years  ago. 

There  have  been  great  changes  in  the  extent,  as 
well  as  in  the  character  of  the  work,  since  1888.  Two 
only  of  the  five  departments  then  in  existence,  the 
central  and  Garfield  boulevard  departments,  now 
remain.  The  Forty-eighth  street  railroad  department 
was  closed  in  1891.  That  at  Sixteenth  street  was  also 
closed  in  1891,  The  Kinzie  street  railroad  department 
was  recently  suspended  because  of  the  opening  at 
West  Fortieth  street  of  the  new  building  of  the  Chi- 
cago and  Northwestern  railroad  department.  Within 
this  period  the  Bridgeport,  South  Chicago,  Millard 
avenue,  Pullman,  and  German  departments,  were 
organized,  continued  for  longer  or  shorter  periods, 
and  finally  closed.  Each  of  these  did  good  work 
for  a  time.  No  one  of  them  was  a  distinct  failure. 
Some  of  them  were  closed  because  of  changed  con- 


40  The  Second  Period. 

ditions;  others  for  lack  of  adequate  local  support.  It 
has  been  the  policy  of  the  board  of  managers,  from 
the  inauguration  of  the  metropolitan  plan,  to  require 
the  committee  of  management  of  each  department  to 
provide  for  its  financial  support  from  the  constituency 
assigned  to  it.  At  some  of  the  points  named  the 
work  will  no  doubt  be  resumed  when  local  conditions 
become  favorable. 

The  association  has  organized  the  West  Side  (1889), 
Intercollegiate  (1890),  Ravenswood  (1891),  Hyde  Park 
(1895),  Chicago  and  Northwestern  (1897)  Dearborn 
Station  (1897),  ^^^id  Elsdon  (1898),  departments  within 
this  period.  It  has  also  adopted  the  Englewood 
department  (1897),  which  was  organized  as  an  inde- 
pendent association  in  1886,  before  the  annexation  of 
Englewood  to  the  city. 

The  Central,  West  Side,  Ravenswood,  Englewood, 
and  Hyde  Park  departments  are  for  general  work. 
Each  occupies  an  important  field,  is  well  equipped 
and  is  on  a  permanent  and  successful  basis.  The 
intercollegiate  department  includes  regularly  organi- 
zed student  associations  in  the  University  of  Chicago 
and  in  thirteen  of  the  professional  schools  of  the  city. 
The  Garfield  boulevard,  Chicago  and  Northwestern, 
and  Dearborn  Station  departments  are  for  railroad 
men.  The  work  at  each  point  is  well  equipped  and  is 
doing  a  successful  and  permanent  work.  The  Elsdon 
department  for  railroad  work,  though  new,  has  a  suit- 
able building  in  process  of  erection.  The  equipment 
and  support  already  secured  insure  the  success  of  this 
department. 

The  growth  of  the  Chicago  association,  within  this 
period,  is  not  measured  by  the  members  gained,  the 
points  occupied,  the  departments  organized,  the  build- 


CLASS  ROOM,  CENTRAL  DEPARTMENT 


■•"^^ 

I 

_M 

40 

pn 

1  ^^^B^  ^  133wL  ^ 

£i# 

« 

CLASS  ROOM,  CENTRAL  DEPARTMENT 


The  Second  Period.  41 

ings  acquired.  Indeed,  it  cannot  be  measured  by 
statistics  alone,  however  complete.  With  the  prog- 
ress in  organization  and  occupation  of  new  fields,  has 
proceeded  a  not  less  significant  transformation  in  the 
character  of  the  work  done.  In  a  word,  the  work  of 
the  association  has  become  definite  and  specialized. 
It  has  become  a  definite  work  for  young  men.  This 
one  thing  it  does.  Their  salvation  is  still  its  supreme 
purpose.  In  common  with  the  entire  brotherhood, 
it  has  come  clearly  to  see  that  the  salvation  of  young 
men  involves  the  improvement  of  their  "spiritual, 
mental,  social,  and  physical  condition;"  that  this 
improvement  requires  a  four-fold  work  to  meet  these 
four  great  needs  of  young  men,  Hence,  has  come 
within  the  association  the  specialization  into  its  four 
great  departments  of  work.  It  is  not  the  purpose  to 
press  one  of  these  to  the  exclusion  of  the  others,  but 
to  make  each  as  strong  as  possible  in  its  proper  place. 
The  former  distinction  between  spiritual  and  secular 
agencies  is  no  longer  pressed.  The  earnest  desire  is 
to  develop  thoroughly  rounded  manly  character.  All 
agencies  that  tend  to  this  result  are  now  regarded  as 
spiritual  in  the  best  sense.  It  is  believed  that  com- 
plete salvation  involves  a  trained  mind  in  a  sound  body 
with  right  relations  to  God  and  man.  It  is  the  single 
purpose  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  to 
supply  the  conditions  that  will  most  surely  lead  multi- 
tudes of  young  men  to  this  complete  salvation. 

The  Chicago  association,  in  the  development  of  this 
specialized  four-fold  work,  has  not  abated  one  jot 
from  the  zeal  for  the  conversion  of  men,  which  char- 
acterized its  earlier  years.  Within  the  year  1897  ^^e 
spiritual  section  held,  in  the  several  departments  of 
the  association,  nine  hundred  and  seventy-five  religious 


42  The  Second  Period. 

services,  with  a  total  attendance  of  one  hundred  and 
nineteen  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  men. 
In  addition,  five  hundred  and  thirty-seven  sessions  of 
Bible  classes  were  held.  There  were  four  hundred 
and  ninety-seven  professed  conversions  and  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-six  men  were  referred  to  city  pastors 
for  church  membership.  No  statistics  can  indicate 
the  improvement  from  day  to  day  in  all  that  goes  to 
make  up  Christian  character  among  the  thousands  of 
young  men  who  are  directly  and  indirectly  influenced 
by  the  association. 

The  educational  section  of  the  association,  as  now 
conducted,  dates  from  the  opening  of  the  new  central 
building.  Educational  classes  were  conducted  in  Far- 
well  Hall  from  about  1882.  From  this  experience  it 
appeared  that  many  young  men,  who  have  embarked 
upon  their  careers,  feel  the  need  of  further  study  to 
insure  success.  There  can  be  scarcely  a  better  service 
rendered  to  a  young  man  than  to  aid  him  to  a  better 
training  for  the  work  upon  which  he  has  already 
entered.  Class  work  is  now  systematically  conducted 
at  the  central  and  West  side  departments.  In  addi- 
tion, ten  reading  rooms  are  open  daily,  and  many  lec- 
tures and  practical  talks  are  given.  Within  the  year 
1897,  eleven  hundred  and  ninety-three  students  were 
enrolled  in  evening  classes  and  one  hundred  and  two 
students  were  enrolled  in  day  classes.  Twenty-six 
hundred  and  fifty-eight  evening  recitations,  with  an 
attendance  of  thirty-one  thousand  and  ninety-eight, 
were  held.  The  day  business  department,  which  offers 
complete  business  courses,  began  its  work  in  1896. 
Its  growth  has  been  steady  and  substantial.  The 
work  at  the  central  department  is  carried  on  under 
the  name  of  Association  College.     It  has  been  under 


CLASS  ROOM,  CENTRAL  DEPARTMENT 


PARLOR,  CENTRAL  DEPARTMENT 


The  Second  Period.  43 


the  highly  efficient  direction  of  Walter  M.  Wood  since 
the  opening  of  the  new  building.  In  his  last  annual 
report  Mr.  Wood  says: 

"I  am  led  hereto  state  briefly  the  large  purpose  of 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  in  conduct- 
ing its  educational  work.  This  purpose  may  be  de- 
fined under  five  distinct  heads:  First,  to  offer  a  gen- 
uine attraction  to  the  association  membership;  sec- 
ond, to  provide  for  the  practical  educational  training 
of  young  men;  third,  to  provide  opportunity  for  intel- 
lectual culture;  fourth,  to  encourage  helpful  social 
intercourse  among  young  men;  fifth,  to  open  an  easy 
and  natural  way  for  the  exercise  of  a  positive  Christian 
influence  on  the  lives  of  young  men  who  become  stu- 
dents and  club  men.  I  think  you  will  agree  with  me 
that  if  this  multiform  purpose  is  carried  out,  and  the 
results  of  the  past  years  prove  that  it  is  being  realized, 
then  certainly  in  association  college  the  management 
and  students  alike  have  every  reason  to  be  inspired 
for  the  most  noble  work,  and  to  feel  confident  that  all 
efforts  will  contribute,  not  to  any  mercenary,  narrow 
or  unworthy  end,  but  to  that  most  noble  accomplish- 
ment, the  development  of  men  of  intelligence,  culture 
and  moral  power." 

The  social  section  of  the  association  extends  to  all 
its  departments.  It  has  received  constant  attention 
throughout  this  period.  Receptions,  socials,  and 
entertainments  have  been  frequent  in  all  its  depart- 
ments. The  social  and  game  rooms  are  well  patron- 
ized, and  there  is  a  home-like  atmosphere  in  all  the 
buildings  of  the  association.  The  work  of  the  other 
sections  also  brings  men  together  under  most  favor- 
able and  helpful  conditions. 

The  physical  section  has  made  rapid  strides  within 


44  The  Second  Period. 

this  period.  Ten  years  ago  there  was  but  one  gyrn- 
nasium.  It  was  started  in  1876,  and  had  become 
inadequate  for  its  purpose.  It  was  practically  the 
only  physical  work  which  the  association  had  ever 
undertaken.  It  now  has  six  well  equipped  gymnasi- 
ums and  many  baseball,  basket  ball,  bicycle,  and  ten- 
nis clubs.  The  entire  physical  work  of  the  association 
is  under  competent  direction  and  careful  control.  The 
gymnasium  at  the  central  building  is  probably  unsur- 
passed in  completeness.  It  is  fully  equipped  with 
bathing  facilities,  including  a  swimming  tank.  Ample 
provision  is  made  for  physical  examinations.  Since 
the  opening  of  the  building  this  gymnasium  has  been 
under  the  direction  of  George  W.  Ehler,  a  man  of 
special  qualifications  and  training  for  his  important 
work.  An  indication  of  the  value  of  the  work  of  this 
section  appears  from  some  of  the  statistics  for  1897. 
The  number  of  class  sessions  in  all  gymnasiums  was 
thirteen  hundred  and  sixty-two,  with  a  total  attend- 
ance of  thirty-seven  thousand  and  ninety-one  men. 
There  were  nine  hundred  and  ninety-eight  medical 
examinations.  The  number  of  baths  taken  was  one 
hundred  and  twenty-seven  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  four.  These  statistics  merely  indicate  part  of  the 
indoor  work  of  the  physical  section. 

Thus  it  appears  that  specialization  of  the  work  of 
the  association  has  proceeded  in  two  directions.  In 
all  its  departments  it  seeks  the  improvement  of  "the 
spiritual,  mental,  social,  and  physical  condition  of 
young  men."  By  its  different  departments  it  pro- 
vides for  the  special  needs  of  various  classes  of 
young  men.  It  now  makes  special  provision  for  col- 
lege men  and  railroad  men  in  its  collegiate  and  rail- 
road departments;  and  provides  for  resident  young 
men  of  Christian  or  moral  character  in  its  departments 


GYMNASIUM.  CENTRAL  DEPARTMENT 


NATATORIUM,  CENTRAL  DEPARTMENT 


The  Second  Period.  45 

for  general  work.  It  plans  for  lodging  homes  for 
young  men  of  limited  income,  transient  or  but  just 
acquiring  a  foothold  in  the  city;  also  for  rescue 
departments  to  reach  and  save  men  of  intemperate 
and  vicious  habits  and  criminal  practices.  Through 
the  means  of  its  spiritual,  educational,  social,  and 
physical  sections  in  all  its  departments  it  provides  for 
the  needs  of  all  young  men. 

The  services  of  many  faithful  assistant  and  depart- 
ment secretaries  have  largely  contributed  to  the  suc- 
cesses of  the  Chicago  association,  especially  in  its  more 
recent  years.  The  names  of  all  cannot  be  recorded 
here.  Those  of  William  Cook,  George  T.  Howser, 
George  B.  Townsend,  Daniel  Sloan,  James  F.  Gates 
and  Walter  T.  Hart  cannot  be  omitted  from  even  a 
sketch  of  the  association.  William  Cook  has  success- 
fully filled  the  position  of  railroad  secretary  at  Kinzie 
street  and  the  new  Chicago  and  Northwestern  depart- 
ment for  seventeen  years,  and  is  now  the  oldest  in  serv- 
ice here  of  the  secretarial  force.  George  T.  Howser 
was  first  assistant  secretary  during  the  closing  years 
of  Mr.  Hemingway's  term,  and  was  acting  secretary  for 
a  few  months.  After  making  a  good  record  here,  he 
accepted  the  general  secretaryship  at  Cincinnati. 
George  B,  Townsend  was  the  active  and  efficient 
financial  secretary  of  the  association  from  1882  to  1891. 
Daniel  Sloan  was  the  first  secretary  of  the  Madison 
street  (now  central)  department  under  the  metropoli- 
tan organization.  His  faithful  and  efficient  service 
was  rendered  during  a  period  of  transition.  James  F. 
Gates,  a  man  of  ability  and  college  training,  upon  his 
graduation  became  Mr.  Sloan's  assistant  in  1893,  ^rid» 
upon  the  latter's  retirement  in  1895,  ^^^  successor. 
He  is  now  the  able  and  successful  secretary  of  the 
central   department,  the  largest  single   department  in 


46  The  Second  Period. 

the  association  world.  Walter  T.  Hart  is  the  assistant 
general  secretary  of  the  association,  which  position  he 
has  filled  with  great  acceptance  since  the  reorganiza- 
tion of  1888.  The  entire  secretarial  force  now  consists 
of  thirty  men.  Seven  of  these  are  college  graduates. 
It  is  but  the  truth  to  say  that  the  entire  force  is  un- 
equaled  elsewhere.  The  regular  employees  of  the 
association  of  all  grades  now  number  one  hundred  and 
four. 

This  period  in  the  life  of  the  association  will  ever 
be  memorable  for  the  progress  made  in  securing  ade- 
quate buildings.  Some  account  of  this  progress  is 
reserved  for  its  proper  place  in  the  chapter  on  "Build- 
ings." Nor  can  an  account  of  the  more  important 
matters  of  this  period  omit  reference  to  the  wider  rela- 
tions of  the  Chicago  association.  This  is  reserved  for 
the  chapter  on  "World-wide  Relations." 

We  are  still  in  the  midst  of  the  period  of  which  this 
chapter  treats.  The  fortieth  anniversary  does  not 
mark  its  close,  but  is  merely  an  incident  in  its  course 
— a  time  to  review  an  inspiring  past  and  plan  for  the 
even  larger  opportunities  and  duties  of  the  coming 
years.  What  some  of  these  opportunities  and  duties 
are  now  believed  to  be,  appears  in  the  final  chapter  on 
"The  Outlook."  Suffice  it  here  to  say,  that  the  past 
ten  years  have  been  years  of  organization,  struggle, 
growth,  achievement — years  in  which  the  association 
has  kept  pace  with  the  growth  of  the  city.  Within 
these  years  it  has  become  a  great  public  institution. 
As  such  it  has  received  a  popular  support,  to  which  it 
is  entitled  only  because  of  its  public  character.  At 
this  anniversary  hour,  it  rejoices  in  what  it  has  been 
permitted  to  do  for  the  good  of  men,  and  with  renewed 
faith  enters  upon  the  larger  work  which  lies  ahead. 


HENRY  M.  HUBBARD 


BUILDINGS. 

The  first  building  ever  erected  for  association  pur- 
poses, the  first  of  four  erected  by  the  Chicago  asso- 
ciation on  the  site  of  the  present  central  building,  was 
dedicated  on  September  29,  1867.  The  achievements 
of  the  building  movement  since  this,  its  initial  step, 
mark  the  progress  of  the  association  idea.  These 
achievements  also  show,  in  a  concrete  way,  the  grow- 
ing confidence  of  practical  men  in  the  character  and 
value  of  association  work. 

The  Chicago  association,  prior  to  the  erection  of 
its  first  building,  occupied  rented  rooms  at  205  Ran- 
dolph street  (1858-1859),  and  in  First  Methodist 
Church  Block  (1859-1867)  at  the  southeast  corner  of 
Washington  and  Clark  streets.  Early  in  1864  the 
records  show  that  "  the  subject  of  a  permanent  build- 
ing and  grounds  as  a  home  for  the  association  occupied 
a  large  part  of  the  time  of  the  board."  E.  S.  Wells, 
J.  V.  Farwell,  D.  L  Moody,  B.  F.  Jacobs,  P.  L. 
Underwood  and  others  were  active  in  the  movement 
which  resulted  in  the  completion  of  the  historic 
structure  known  as  the  first  Farwell  Hall.  Mr.  John 
V.  Farwell  gave  land  and  cash  to  the  amount  of 
;^6o,000,  thereby  making  this  great  achievement  possi- 
ble at  that  time. 

Those  who  had  prayed  and  toiled  for  the  erection 
of  the  first  building  were  permitted  to  enjoy  it  but 
four  short  months.    On  January  7,  1868,  it  was  burned 

47 


48  Buildings. 


to   the  ground.     The   records   of  the   time  show   the 
spirit  in  which  this  great  calamit}^  was  met: 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  7th  of  January  we  were 
called  upon  in  the  Providence  which  God  permitted  to 
visit  us,  to  '  pass  under  the  rod,'  and  literally  to  obey 
the  voice  of  the  prophet,  '  Glorify  ye  the  Lord  in  the 
fires.'  At  a  quarter  past  nine  o'clock  the  cry  of  '  Fire 
in  Farwell  Hall,'  rang  sharply  through  our  office, 
seeming  at  first  'as  the  cry  of  one  who  mocketh,'  but 
soon  realized  as  true  in  the  awful  conflagration  which 
swept  in  an  hour  to  the  object  of  our  prayers  and 
labors  for  years.  But  in  the  hour  of  the  fierce,  fiery 
elements,  God's  hand  was  manifest  in  kindness,  for  no 
flame  kindled  upon  the  person  of  our  young  men  in 
the  work,  and  no  life  was  lost.  Many  friends  came  to 
the  rescue  of  such  effects  as  could  be  saved,  and  we 
succeeded  in  securing  all  the  association  records,  a 
part  of  the  library  and  rooms  furniture,  with  nearly 
eight  hundred  volumes  of  the  most  valuable  works  in 
our  library.  When  the  flames  were  fiercest,  the  call 
for  prayer  was  sounded,  and  the  daily  prayer-meeting, 
which  has  never  been  suspended  for  one  day  since 
its  organization,  gathered  in  the  lecture-room  of  the 
Methodist  Church  at  the  usual  hour  for  prayer  and 
praise.  Most  earnestly  and  humbly  we  bowed  before 
the  great  and  all-wise  Giver,  blessing  the  hand  which 
took  as  well  as  gave.  The  test  of  our  faith  was  also 
the  test  of  our  friends,  and  until  the  flames  had  wrapt 
our  building  as  a  winding  sheet,  we  had  never  known 
how  many  and  how  true  were  those  who  loved  our 
association.  Scores  wept  as  though  their  own  homes 
were  burning." 

The  association  promptly  secured   rooms  in  Major 
Block,  corner  of  LaSalle  and   Madison  streets,  where 


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Buildings.  49 


the  work  continued  to  be  vigorously  prosecuted. 
Major  D.  W.  Whittle  writes: 

"The  first  fire  seemed  a  great  calamity  to  us,  but 
it  proved  a  blessing  in  converting  most  of  those  who 
were  stockholders  in  the  building  to  donors  of  their 
subscriptions,  and  starting  us  upon  a  better  footing." 

The  second  building,  erected  in  1868,  was  dedicated 
January  19,  1869.  It  was  destroyed  in  the  great  fire 
of  1871.  How  this  second  calamity  was  met  is  shown 
by  the  following  extracts  from  the  records: 

"October  8',  1871,  the  association  buildings  were 
burned  in  the  great  fire. 

"October  25,  1871,  the  following  relief  committee 
was  appointed  immediately  after  the  fire:  John  V. 
Farwell,  treasurer;  D.  L.  Moody,  B.  F.  Jacobs,  D.  W. 
Whittle,  Rev.  C.  E.  Cheney;  Rev.  Robert  Patterson, 
secretary. 

"October  30,  1871,  Messrs.  Whittle,  Jacobs,  and 
Hitchcock  were  appointed  a  special  committee  on 
building  barracks  for  religious  purposes.  Board  met 
in  Seventh  Presbyterian  Church,  corner  of  Peoria  and 
Jackson  streets. 

"November  16,  1871,  Major  Whittle  reported  that 
the  committee  had  secured  rooms  on  the  West  side  at 
97  Randolph  street,  and  had  ordered  shelving  put  in 
for  library  purposes.  The  president  and  secretary 
were  instructed  to  execute  the  leases  for  their  own 
room  and  office  at  97  Randolph  street  at  eight  hundred 
dollars  per  annum." 

Mr.  F.  G.  Ensign  writes  of  this  event: 

'  The  association  was  rendered  homeless  by  the 
great  Chicago  fire.  The  question  of  rebuilding  came 
to  the  front.  All  members  of  the  association  were 
scattered,  and  many  had  left   the  city  temporarily  or 


CO  Buildings. 


permanently,  so  that  few  were  left  to  take  the  task  of 
reconstruction.  The  first  step  was  to  secure  the  sur- 
render of  the  stock;  for  the  buildings  that  were 
burned  had  been  built  on  the  stock  plan.  The  sum  of 
two  hundred  and  sixteen  thousand  dollars  had  been 
paid  for  this  stock  by  the  subscribers,  most  of  whom 
expected  to  get  six  per  cent,  interest  annually  on  their 
investment.  The  task  of  finding  the  addresses  of 
these  stockholders  and  soliciting  them  to  surrender 
their  stock  was  apportioned  to  me.  In  a  few  months 
the  stock  to  the  face  value  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars  was  surrendered,  and  the  third  build- 
ing of  the  association  was  erected." 

The  greater  part  of  the  remaining  stock  was  gradu- 
ally donated  to  the  association.  Some  of  it  was 
retired  in  other  ways. 

The  third  building  was  dedicated  on  November  9, 
1874.  It  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  dollars.  It  had  a  frontage  of  thirty-five 
feet  at  148  Madison  street,  a  depth  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty  feet  to  Arcade  court,  with  a  wing  to  the 
eastward  one  hundred  and  twenty  by  seventy-six 
feet.  The  south,  or  main  portion  of  its  site,  is  that 
of  all  but  the  front  of  the  present  noble  structure. 

Each  of  the  first  three  buildings  bore  the  name  of 
Farwell  Hall.  This  was  appropriate,  as  the  great 
hall  was  the  main  feature  of  each.  The  association, 
in  its  early  days,  was  largely  a  library  and  place  for 
holding  religious  meetings.  A  great  hall  for  the 
larger  meetings,  a  smaller  one  for  the  noonday  and 
other  smaller  services,  rooms  for  the  library  and  the 
offices,  met  the  requirements  of  the  association.  As 
the  work  developed  to  meet  the  spiritual,  mental, 
social  and  physical  needs  of  young  men,  the  old  type 


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Buildings.  51 


of  building  was  found  to  be  wholly  inadequate.  Toward 
the  end  of  the  year  1888,  the  managers  and  trus- 
tees of  the  association  became  convinced  that  the  old 
building  must  be  radically  changed  throughout  or  a 
new  structure  secured.  A  careful  examination  of  the 
building  showed  that  it  would  be  impossible  to 
remodel  it  so  as  to  give  modern  facilities.  Upon  con- 
sultation with  architects,  it  was  found  that  the  shape 
of  the  lot  would  make  a  new  building,  not  only  expen- 
sive in  construction,  but  inadequate  to  the  require- 
ments. The  first  step,  therefore,  was  investigation  as 
to  an  available  building  site.  Owing  to  the  geographi- 
cal arrangement  of  the  city,  the  first  requisite  was 
that  it  be  in  the  very  heart  of  the  central  or  down- 
town district.  To  move  any  distance  in  any  direction 
would  deprive  the  association  of  a  large  share  of  its 
usefulness.  Much  time  and  consideration  were,  there- 
fore, given  to  the  choice  of  a  lot.  Just  when  the 
search  in  this  direction  seemed  futile,  it  occurred  to 
the  committee  that  by  the  sale  of  that  portion  of  the 
lot  which  fronted  thirty-five  feet  on  Madison  street, 
and  purchase  of  the  lot  lying  between  the  rear  of  the 
property  and  LaSalle  street,  a  more  symmetrical 
building  could  be  secured,  with  a  frontage  of  fifty- 
three  feet  on  LaSalle  street,  a  depth  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty-five  feet  upon  Arcade  court,  and  a  width  in 
the  rear  of  eighty-one  feet. 

The  high  value  of  the  land,  and  the  great  cost  of 
construction  of  a  building  adapted  solely  for  the  uses 
and  purposes  of  the  association,  made  it  necessary  to 
embrace  in  the  general  scheme  a  building  which 
should  combine  the  facilities  required  by  the  associa- 
tion with  a  large  number  of  offices  to  be  rented  for 
business   purposes.     The   income  from   the   offices  is 


52 


Buildings. 


now  applied  in  carrying  the  debt  which  was  incurred 
in  the  construction  of  the  building.  When  the  debt  is 
paid  this  income  will  be  available  for  the  extension  of 
the  work  of  the  association. 

Numerous  sketches  and  studies  were  made  before 
the  matter  was  allowed  to  go  beyond  the  knowledge 
and  consideration  of  a  few  members  of  the  board  of 
managers.  At  the  annual  dinner  in  January,  1889, 
some  of  the  gentlemen  present  presented  the  associa- 
tion with  fifty  silver  dollars,  which  they  desired  to 
have  kept  as  the  beginning  of  a  fund  for  a  new  build- 
ing. The  suggestion  was  received  with  enthusiasm, 
and  the  trust  fund  for  this  purpose  was  begun.  Noth- 
ing definite,  however,  during  that  year  was  accom- 
plished. Faith  and  courage  were  not  yet  sufficient  to 
justify  a  canvass  for  a  building  fund. 

John  Crerar,  long  a  distinguished  merchant,  died 
in  October,  1889,  leaving  a  will  which  will  stand  as 
one  of  the  historic  documents  of  Chicago,  illustrating 
a  wise  testamentary  distribution  of  wealth.  It  called 
forth  the  admiration  of  every  broad-minded  citizen. 
In  the  simplicity  and  force  of  its  language,  in  the  high 
moral  tone  which  pervaded  all  the  provisions  by  which 
a  great  library  was  to  be  founded  for  the  benefit  of  the 
people,  it  was  unique.  Among  the  many  monuments 
for  good  raised  by  the  noble  purpose  of  Mr.  Crerar, 
none  will  stand  for  more  far-reaching  and  conspicuous 
results  than  what  he  did  by  his  gift  of  fifty  thousand 
dollars  to  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of 
Chicago,  which  will  be  his  trustee  in  extending  to 
generations  of  young  men  the  open  hand  of  fellowship. 
This  bequest  came  as  an  inspiration  to  the  officers  of 
the  association.  It  was  immediately  felt  that  this 
would  be  a  foundation-stone  upon  which  to  rest  the 


ENGLEWOOD  DEPARTMENT  BUILDING 


Buildings.  53 


superstructure  of  the  new  building.  Acting  under  the 
encouragement  of  this  gift,  two  subscriptions  of  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars  each  were  quickly  secured  from 
friends  of  Mr.  Crerar,  thus  securing  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  as  the  beginning  of  this  important  move- 
ment. 

An  upper  room  of  the  old  building  was  crowded  with 
members  of  the  association  to  usher  in  the  New  Year 
of  1891.  An  earnest  religious  service  had  been  con- 
ducted, after  which  plans  were  submitted  and  discussed 
relating  to  a  new  building  which  should  be  commen- 
surate with  the  growing  interest  and  greatly  increased 
activity  of  the  association  in  Chicago.  The  sub- 
scription books  were  opened  at  this  meeting,  and, 
in  less  than  sixty  days,  as  the  result  of  an  earnest 
canvass  by  committees  then  organized,  forty  thousand 
dollars  more  was  pledged  toward  the  building  fund, 
most  of  the  subscriptions  being  for  comparatively  small 
amounts.  Simultaneously  with  this  canvass,  an  option 
was  secured  upon  the  LaSalle  street  property  owned 
by  the  Andrews  estate,  in  order  that  time  might  be 
given  in  which  to  test  the  possibility  of  securing  the 
funds  necessary  for  the  erection  of  a  building.  With 
pledges  in  hand  to  the  extent  of  one  hundred  and  forty 
thousand  dollars;  an  option  upon  property  which 
would  give  the  very  best  location  to  be  found  in  the 
entire  city;  the  old  building  rapidly  approaching  a 
condition  where  it  must  be  either  entirely  remodeled 
or  pulled  down,  the  managers  and  trustees  of  the 
association  felt  that  the  time  had  come  for  a  final 
effort  to  rise  and  build  anew.  After  serious  consider- 
ation it  was  decided  to  start  the  new  enterprise  with 
confidence  and  a  determination  to  succeed. 

The  first  work  was   to  prepare  a  plan  which  should 


54  Buildings. 


give  the  best  possible  conveniences  and  equipment  for 
the  association  part  of  the  building,  and  also  well 
arranged  and  well-lighted  offices.  When  to  these 
requirements  were  added  the  necessity  of  an  audi- 
torium to  hold  at  least  twelve  hundred  people  for  the 
religious  and  other  gatherings  connected  with  the 
association;  also  a  gymnasium,  with  its  large  open 
space  and  the  usual  running  track,  it  will  be  realized 
that  the  problem  before  the  architect  was  one  of  no 
mean  proportions.  Messrs.  Jenney  &  Mundie  were 
called  to  this  work,  and  after  a  few  weeks  of  incessant 
labor  with  the  general  secretary  and  a  committee  of 
managers,  a  plan  was  finally  prepared  which  success- 
fully met  all  these  requirements.  The  result  was  a 
design  for  a  fire-proof,  steel-constructed  building  of 
twelve  stories  in  height,  with  a  facade  of  most  digni- 
fied and  attractive  appearance.  The  roof,  marked  by 
a  tower,  was  intended  to  form  a  distinguishing  feature 
of  this  building,  standing  as  it  does  among  buildings 
devoted  entirely  to  mercantile  and  secular  interests. 
The  financial  problem  being  the  first  one  to  be 
solved,  a  building  committee  was  appointed,  composed 
of  the  following  gentlemen:  N.  S.  Bouton,  chairman; 
S.  M.  Moore,  E.  G.  Keith,  A.  L.  Coe,  Cyrus  H. 
McCormick,  John  V.  Farwell,  jr.,  Henry  M.  Hubbard, 
and  James  L.  Houghteling.  Without  delay  they 
called  in  as  advisory  members,  with  particular  refer- 
ence to  the  general  financial  scheme,  Owen  F.  Aldis, 
Byron  L.  Smith  and  John  J.  Mitchell,  who  were  not 
members  of  the  board  of  managers.  This  committee, 
undertook  the  consideration  of  the  building  plans, 
and  the  preparation  of  a  financial  scheme  by  which 
the  enterprise  could  be  carried  successfully  to  comple- 
tion. 


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Buildings.  55 

The  committee  finally  proposed  a  financial  plan  as 
follows  : 

Contributions $400,000 

Sale  of  Madison  street  property 175,000 

Thirtj-jear  bonds 600,000 

The  land  was  estimated  as  being  worth  $50  per 
square  foot;  which,  added  to  the  cost  of  the  building, 
would  make  a  security  for  the  bonds  beyond  question. 
An  arrangement  was  then  made  for  the  sale  of  the 
bonds  to  the  First  National  Bank  of  Chicago. 

An  active  canvass  was  immediately  begun  for  sub- 
scriptions, and  in  three  months  a  total  of  ^300,000  was 
subscribed.  This  was  the  figure  decided  upon  as 
necessary  before  the  work  could  be  undertaken.  It 
was  felt  that  the  remaining  ^100,000  could  be  secured 
as  the  work  progressed.  An  analysis  of  the  subscrip- 
tions shows  that,  aside  from  the  bequest  received  from 
the  will  of  John  Crerar,  there  were  two  subscriptions 
making  together  ;^6o,ooo,  four  of  ;gio,ooo  each,  seven 
of  S6,ooo,  thirteen  of  ^5,000,  three  of  ^3,500,  two  of 
$3,000,  three  of  $2,500,  eight  of  $2,000,  one  of  $1,500, 
one  of  $1,300,  three  of  $1,250,  and  ninety-eight  of 
$1,000,  The  citizens  of  Chicago  gave  to  this  project 
liberally  and  encouraged  the  committee  in  their  work. 
On  May  10,  1892,  the  pulling  down  of  the  Andrews 
building  on  LaSalle  street  was  begun.  The  work  upon 
the  foundations  was  begun  sixty  days  later,  and  it 
was  pushed  with  vigor.  It  was  originally  hoped  that 
the  building  would  be  ready  for  occupancy  May  i, 
1893,  but  the  time  necessary  to  secure  the  subscrip- 
tions and  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  the  structural  steel, 
delayed  the  work  so  that  it  was  impossible  to  finish 
the  building  by  that  time. 

The  panic  of    1893   very  seriously  interfered  with 


56  Buildings. 


the  project ;  and,  although  the  construction  was  pushed, 
the  committee  which  had  in  charge  the  securing  of  the 
requisite  additional  subscriptions  were  obliged  tempo- 
rarily to  suspend  their  work.  In  the  mean  time,  No- 
vember II,  1893,  the  building  was  opened  for  the 
occupancy  of  the  association,  although  the  office  part 
was  not  at  that  time  completed.  As  the  committee 
was  unwilling  to  incur  additional  debt, — the  full  amount 
of  subscriptions  not  yet  being  secured, — it  was  felt 
necessary  to  omit  the  interior  finish  of  four  of  the 
upper  floors.  It  was  soon  discovered  that  this  would 
be  very  detrimental  to  the  economical  completion  of 
the  work  already  ordered.  Hence  a  syndicate  was 
organized  to  borrow  the  money  from  outside  sources 
and  finish  up  the  ninth  floor.  As  the  work  of  securing 
subscriptions  progressed,  this  syndicate  was  reimbursed 
and  another  one  formed  to  finish  the  tenth  and  eleventh 
and  part  of  the  twelfth  floors.  This  work  was  not  fin- 
ished and  all  the  offices  of  the  building  ready  for 
renting  until  May  i,  1895. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  trustees  are  now  com- 
pleting their  third  year  of  the  rental  of  the  entire 
office  portion  of  the  building.  The  original  plan  pro- 
vided ample  sunlight  and  air  for  all  the  offices.  The 
interior  finish,  although  not  extravagant,  is  equal  in 
completeness  to  that  of  any  other  modern  building 
in  the  city.  The  demand  for  the  offices  has  therefore 
been  good  and  the  building  is  now  practically  filled,  al- 
though the  rent  roll  has  suffered  the  same  diminution 
which  has  come  to  all  buildings  of  this  class,  owing 
to  the  financial  stringency  since  1893. 

An  examination  of  the  building,  its  arrangement 
and  equipment,  will  show  that  the  plans  of  the  building 
committee  have  been  well  carried  out,  and  that  the  gen- 


ENTRANCE  ASSOCIATION  BUILDING 


RESTAURANT,  ASSOCIATION  BUILDING 


Buildings.  57 

eral  scheme  and  original  object  of  the  committee  have 
been  fully  vindicated.  It  may  properly  be  said  that  the 
enterprise  is  thus  far  complete  in  all  details,  with  the 
exception  of  that  part  which  relates  to  the  collection 
of  the  necessary  contributions.  As  time  progressed, 
certain  additions  to  the  building  were  found  impera- 
tive, and  the  original  estimate  of  $400,000  in  subscrip- 
tions was  found  to  be  inadequate.  Some  long-time 
loans  are  still  carried;  and,  with  the  restoration  of 
better  financial  conditions,  the  building  committee 
hope  that  sufficient  contributions  can  be  secured  to 
complete  this,  the  only  unfinished  portion  of  the  work 
as  it  was  originally  planned. 

The  entire  work  of  furnishing  the  parlors  and  library 
of  the  central  department,  and  the  offices  of  the  gen- 
eral board,  was  undertaken  by  a  committee  of  ladies 
who  raised  $6,000  and  finished  their  work  with  great 
taste.  The  association  is  much  indebted  to  them  for 
their  timely  and  efficient  assistance.* 

♦Notwithstanding  the  financial  stringency,  provision  was 
made  by  the  committee  to  meet  all  bills  when  presented.  A 
synopsis  of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  will  illustrate  the  near- 
ness with  which  the  committee  have  adhered  to  their  financial 
plan. 

BUILDING    FUND. 

NEW   CENTRAL   BUILDING. 

Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of  Chicago. 

Cost : 

Purchase  of  La  Salle  street  front  (53x65) $270,160  00 

Construction  of  building 959,484  00 

Miscellaneous  items,  including  interest  on  bonds 
and  cost  of  operation  prior  to  final  completion, 
a  period  of  two  years 72,353  00 

$1,301,997  00 


$8  Buildings. 

The  organization  of  the  association  on  the  metro- 
politan plan  in  1888  unified  and  broadened  the  work, 
and  led  its  friends  to  plan  for  greater  things.  Not 
only  did  the  necessity  of  a  new  central  building 
become  apparent,  but  also  the  need  for  buildings  suit- 
able for  the  special  requirements  of  the  work  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  city.  The  Fifty-fifth  street  railroad 
department,  now  the  Garfield  boulevard  railway 
department,  was  the  first  to  profit  by  these  new  plans. 
The  work  at  this  point  had  been  efficiently  carried 
on  in  rented  rooms,  which  were  entirely  inadequate. 
In  1889  the  building  now  occupied  by  this  department 
was  made  possible  by  the  gift  by  John  V.  Farwell,  Jr., 
of  the  lot  at  the  corner  of  Garfield  and  Tracy  avenues, 
and  by  the  gift  of  one  thousand  dollars  by  Mr. 
William  Thaw,  of  Pittsburg,  second  vice-president  of 
the  Pennsylvania  railroad.  This,  the  first  building 
erected  after  the  reorganization,  was  dedicated  on 
October  6,  1889.  The  building  cost  ^7,000,  of  which 
;?52,000  was  raised  by  railway  men  and  their  friends 
in  the  neighborhood. 

The  West  side  department  rapidly  developed  from 
its  inception,  soon  outgrew  its  first  quarters  on  West 
Madison  street  near  California  avenue,  and  removed 
to  Paulina  and  Madison  streets,  where  the  physical 
department  became  one  of  the  permanent  features  of 

Receipts  : 

From  subscriptions $408,123  00 

Sale  of  Madison  street  front  and  other  property.       201,009  00 

Sale  of  thirtj-year  five  per  cent,  gold  bonds 584,616  00 

Miscellaneous  sources: 

Ladies  furnishing $  6,292  00 

Time  loans ._   94,932  00 

Interest  and  small  items 6,942  00      108,16600 

$1,301,914  00 


CHICAGO  &  NORTHWESTERN  RAILROAD  BUILDING 


GARFIELD  BOULEVARD  RAILROAD  BUILDING 


Buildings.  59 


the  work.  While  here  located,  with  a  rapidly-increas- 
ing membership,  the  necessity  of  erecting  a  suitable 
building  was  increasingly  apparent.  Just  at  this  period 
a  providential  opportunity  to  secure  its  present  build- 
ing was  unexpectedly  presented.  The  Holden  build- 
ing, then  occupied  by  the  LaSalle  Club,  at  542  West 
Monroe  street,  was  suggested  as  suitable  in  location 
and  equipment  for  the  growing  work  of  the  depart- 
ment. The  main  building,  constructed  of  white 
marble,  occupies  a  lot  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  by 
one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  feet,  and  contains  twenty- 
four  rooms,  substantially  finished  and  furnished.  In 
the  rear  an  addition  had  been  erected  by  the  LaSalle 
Club,  forty-two  by  seventy-two  feet,  containing  bowl- 
ing alleys,  bathrooms,  an  audience  room,  and  an 
additional  hall  admirably  adapted  for  a  gymnasium. 
The  club  having  expressed  its  purpose  to  vacate  the 
property,  an  option  on  the  premises  was  secured  at 
^45,000.  An  additional  sum  of  $5,000  was  added  to 
this  amount  for  necessary  alterations  and  equipment. 
The  late  Jacob  Beidler,  upon  learning  of  the  proposed 
plan  of  purchase,  immediately  subscribed  one-third  of 
the  entire  amount,  being  $16,666.67,  provided  the  other 
two-thirds  of  the  total  amount  needed  could  be  secured. 
The  canvass  was  undertaken  in  February,  1893,  and 
within  forty-two  days  the  balance  was  subscribed.  In 
this  canvass  several  of  the  West  side  pastors,  particu- 
larly Rev.  Dr.  William  M.  Lawrence,  rendered  valuable 
aid.  This  building  has  since  furnished  an  admirable 
home  for  the  West  side  department,  providing  facili- 
ties equal  to  those  furnished  by  more  costly  buildings 
erected  especially  for  association  use.  The  ground 
occupied  by  the  tennis  courts,  and  other  space  about  the 


6o  Buildings. 


building,  gives  ample  opportunity  for  enlargement  and 
the  final  erection  of  a  new  and  adequate  building  as 
the  work  shall  demand  added  space  and  equipment. 
Visitors  to  the  building  are  uniformly  impressed  with 
its  homelike  appearance  and  the  excellent  substitute 
here  made  possible  for  worldly  club  life  without  its 
frequent  attendant  demoralizing  influences.  A  more 
commodious  building,  suited  to  the  growing  needs  of 
the  association,  will  provide  a  larger  audience  room, 
which  is  greatly  needed  on  the  West  side,  a  gymnasium 
so  placed  as  not  to  disturb  other  portions  of  the  build- 
ing, and  equipment  for  evening  educational  work. 

The  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railway  Company 
was  among  the  first  of  the  railway  corporations  in  the 
West  to  show  substantial  interest  in  the  association's 
effort  for  railroad  employees.  The  Kinzie  street  rail- 
road department  was  the  oldest  of  existing  railroad 
associations  in  Illinois.  Its  rooms  at  Canal  and  Kinzie 
streets,  occupied  January  i,  1882,  were  in  the  early 
years  suitably  located  and  were  frequented  by  a  large 
number  of  railroad  employees.  The  company's  yards, 
however,  were  gradually  transferred  to  distant  points, 
thus  limiting  the  work  at  the  old  department  to  a  few 
of  the  passenger  men.  The  largest  center  for  associa- 
tion effort  on  this  line  was  found  to  be  five  miles  west 
of  the  passenger  station,  near  the  shops  and  yards  at 
West  Fortieth  street.  At  this  point  over  eighteen  hun- 
dred employees  center,  including  shop  men,  engine 
and  train  men.  In  1891  Mr.  Marvin  Hughitt,  President 
of  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railroad  Company, 
made  a  proposition  for  the  directors  that  the  company 
would  appropriate  ^15,000  for  an  association  building 
at  that  point,  provided  the  men  were  sufficiently  inter- 
ested   to    contribute  $5,000  toward   its   erection  and 


1^  m.H.^^_.vi^ 


DEARBORN  STATION  RAILROAD  BUILDING,  (Leased) 


Buildings.  6i 


equipment.  Three  of  the  directors  made  an  additional 
promise  to  purchase  and  donate  as  their  personal  sub- 
scription a  site  for  the  building.  These  generous 
offers  created  widespread  interest  among  the  railroad 
men.  Under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Robert  Quayle, 
superintendent  of  motive  power  and  machinery,  a  can- 
vass resulted  in  securing  within  thirty  days  $6,500  in 
subscriptions  from  fifteen  hundred  and  fifty  men.  The 
railway  company  subsequently  increased  its  subscrip- 
tion to  $18,000. 

On  a  site  seventy-five  by  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  feet,  valued  at  $2,800,  a  handsome  two-story  and 
basement  building  was  dedicated,  October  28,  1897. 
The  equipment  here  provided  is  more  complete  than 
in  any  railroad  building  west  of  Philadelphia.  The 
privileges  include  an  attractive  reception  hall;  parlor 
and  library,  beautifully  and  fittingly  furnished;  desira- 
ble reading  room;  recreation  room  for  appropriate 
games;  barber  shop;  gymnasium;  bowling  alley;  bi- 
cycle storage;  bathrooms;  auditorium  with  seating 
capacity  for  two  hundred  and  fifty,  and  class  rooms  for 
educational  work. 

The  restaurant  on  the  first  floor,  where  lunches 
and  meals  may  be  obtained  at  any  hour  of  the  day  or 
night,  is  especially  appreciated  by  the  men;  while  the 
dormitory  privileges,  furnishing  twenty  beds,  are  all 
in  constant  use.  The  architect  of  this  building,  Charles 
S.  Frost,  has  been  most  happy  in  the  exterior  design 
and  interior  arrangement.  The  building  particularly 
appeals  to  the  social  natures  of  the  men,  as  a  home- 
like, attractive  and  elevating  place  of  resort. 

The  latest  building  development  is  at  Elsdon,  in 
the  midst  of  the  Grand  Trunk  railway  yards.  Three 
hundred  men  center  at  this  point,  most  of  whom  are 


62  Buildings. 


away  from  home,  sleeping  in  round-houses,  cabooses, 
and  in  cheap  hotels.  Through  the  generous  offer  of 
the  officials  of  the  road  and  the  personal  interest  of 
General  Manager  Hays,  the  company  has  given  a  long 
lease  of  land  and  contributed  $3,500  for  a  building  for 
the  association  work  at  this  point.  Subscriptions  to 
the  amount  of  $600  were  secured  from  the  men;  a 
pledge  of  $250  from  the  Chicago,  New  York  and 
Boston  Refrigerator  Company,  and  personal  pledges 
from  friends  have  made  possible  the  erection  of  a 
building  costing,  with  furnishings,  about  $6,000. 

The  usual  equipment  of  a  railroad  department  is 
here  found,  with  exceptional  provisions  for  restaurant 
and  sleeping  privileges.  There  is  no  point  in  the  city 
where  the  men  are  more  appreciative  of  a  building 
than  in  this  sparsely  settled  section,  where  by  day  and 
night  the  men  are  at  leisure  waiting  their  return  trips 
to  distant  homes.  The  work  here  is  almost  exclusively 
for  trainmen  in  the  freight  department  and  for  engi- 
neers and  firemen. 

The  value  of  the  Englewood  property  is  about 
$20,000.  It  is  subject  to  a  mortgage  of  $10,000. 
Centrally  located  on  Stewart  avenue,  a  few  doors  from 
Sixty-third  street,  in  the  very  heart  of  the  business 
center,  the  building  is  a  natural  and  convenient  resort 
for  young  men. 

This  property,  which  had  previously  been  held  by  a 
separate  corporation  known  as  the  Englewood  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  was  transferred  to  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Chicago  association  on  Octo- 
ber 15,  1897.  The  building  was  originally  one  of  the 
best  residences  of  the  vicinity.  It  is  substantially 
finished  in  hard  woods,  and  suited  especially  for  the 
social  features  of  the  work.     The  renewed  interest  in 


^^j;^^^^ 


GRAND  TRUNK  RAILROAD   BUILDING,  (Elsdon) 


Buildings.  63 


the  association  at  Englewood  has  created  a  strong 
demand  for  a  suitable  gymnasium.  Plans  are  under 
consideration  to  erect  a  temporary  building  for  this 
purpose  on  the  rear  of  the  property,  or  for  sale  of  the 
property  entire  and  purchase  of  a  suitable  lot  for  the 
erection  of  a  modern  association  building. 

The  Chicago  association,  for  what  has  been  accom- 
plished in  securing  a  proper  equipment  for  its  great 
work,  is  deeply  indebted  to  many  of  its  members  and 
friends,  both  past  and  present.  Their  splendid  zeal 
has  conquered  many  incredible  difficulties,  not  once, 
but  again  and  again.  Through  the  entire  history  of 
this  building  movement,  their  faith  has  not  faltered 
nor  their  generosity  failed.  No  stronger  testimony 
than  what  they  have  done  for  the  association  could  be 
given  to  the  value  and  efficiency  of  its  work;  nor 
could  there  be  a  stronger  testimony  to  the  public 
spirit  and  Christian  purpose  of  those  who  have  wrought 
and  given  for  its  material  equipment. 

While  the  roll  of  names  of  those  whose  service  and 
generosity  have  contributed  to  the  building  movement 
in  Chicago  is  too  long  for  insertion  here,  those  who 
are  omitted  will  expect  to  see  in  this  place  the  names 
of  Cyrus  H.  McCormick,  John  V.  Farwell,  Jr.,  James 
L.  Houghteling,  and  L.  Wilbur  Messer.  They  would 
be  the  last  to  claim  personal  credit  for  having  made  the 
central  building  possible  at  this  time  ;  but,  while  with- 
out the  assistance  of  many  others  they  could  not 
have  succeeded,  their  names  must  be  recorded  here  as 
the  leaders  in  this  noble  achievement.  This  greatest 
of  association  buildings  will  remain  a  monument  to 
their  indomitable  courage  and  consecrated  service. 
The  truth  of  history  requires  that  this  much  be  said 
of  the  present  leaders   of  the  building    movement  in 


64  Buildings. 


Chicago.  More  need  not  be  added,  as  the  associa- 
tion buildings  have  been  erected  solely  for  the  glory 
of  God  and  the  salvation  of  men.  That  they  have 
met  this  purpose  is  shown  by  the  providence  which 
has  ever  been  apparent  in  the  Chicago  building 
movement. 


WORLD-WIDE    RELATIONS. 

The  Chicago  association  has  never  occupied  a  posi- 
tion of  isolation.  We  have  seen  how  reports  of  "the 
benign  results  achieved  by  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Associations  of  other  cities,"  borne  in  upon  its  foun- 
ders, moved  them  to  undertake  its  organization.  It 
does  not  require  a  close  study  of  its  first  constitution 
to  see  how  fully  they  were  informed  of  what  had  been 
accomplished  by  the  earlier  associations.  From  that 
day  to  this,  the  Chicago  association  has  sustained 
cordial  relations  with  the  entire  brotherhood.  That 
these  relations  have  been  mutually  helpful  to  both 
the  local  association  and  the  general  movement,  there 
is  abundant  evidence.  In  the  first  place,  the  Chicago 
association  has  constantly  received  during  its  entire 
history,  counsel,  inspiration,  and  encouragement  from 
outside.  The  international  and  state  committees 
have  stood  ready  at  all  times  to  render  their  valuable 
aid.  Mr.  Robert  Weidensall,  senior  field  secretary 
of  the  international  committee,  has  since  1870  sus- 
tained close  relations  with  the  association.  It  has 
been  his  headquarters  during  all  these  years.  From 
here  he  has  gone  forth  into  his  great  field  to  promote 
the  association  movement.  The  Chicago  association 
has  long  been  upon  Mr.  Weidensall's  heart.  He  has 
ever  cordially  supported  its  secretaries  and  officers. 
He  has  always  stood  for  true  association  ideals,  and 
has  persistently  urged  that  the  great  aim  of  the  asso- 

65 


66  World-Wide  Relations. 


ciation  is  the  salvation  of  young  men.  He  and  Mr. 
Hemingway  together  visited  Mr.  Houghteling  and 
secured  his  consent  to  become  the  president  of  the 
association.  Those  responsible  for  its  conduct  have 
always  found  Mr.  Weidensall  a  safe  counselor.  He 
justly  says:  "I  have  always  given  advice  conscien- 
tiously and  without  respect  to  persons,  for  the  best 
interests  of  the  association,  as  I  understood  it."  The 
record  of  services  rendered  to  the  association  by  the 
international  committee,  through  Mr.  Morse,  Mr. 
Weidensall  and  others  of  its  secretaries,  is  too  long 
for  insertion  here.  It  must  suffice  to  add  that  these 
supervisory  services  have  done  much  to  contribute  to 
the  successes  of  all  these  years. 

The  Chicago  association  has  exerted  no  small  in- 
fluence upon  the  great  religious  movement,  of  which 
from  its  organization  it  has  been  a  conspicuous  part. 
Mr.  Richard  C.  Morse,  general  secretary  of  the  inter- 
national committee,  than  whom  no  one  may  speak  with 
greater  authority,  writes: 

"The  helpful  influence  of  the  work  of  the  Chicago 
association  has  been  felt  in  the  international  organ- 
ization and  work,  both  on  this  continent  and  abroad. 
In  the  early  conventions  Mr.  Moody,  who  was  always 
the  leading  delegate  from  Chicago,  stood  as  the  asso- 
ciation in  Chicago  stood  for  evangelistic  work  exclu- 
sively. The  associations  had  need  in  all  their  early 
history  of  emphasis  upon  this  central  activity  of  the 
organization.  Without  the  helpful  influence  of  the 
Chicago  delegation  and  the  Chicago  association,  in 
putting  emphasis,  both  in  the  convention  and  in  the 
local  work,  upon  evangelistic  effort,  it  is  doubtful 
whether  the  supremacy  of  the  spiritual  work  of  the 
organization  could  have  been  so  thoroughly  maintained 


SUPERVISORY  AND  EDUCATIONAL  OFFICIALS 

C.  K.  Ober 
I.  E.  Brown 
John  W.  Hansel 


Frank  W.  Ober 
Richard  C.  Morse 
Robert  Weidensall 


World-Wide  Relations.  67 

in  the  historical  development  of  the  entire  association 
movement. 

"Much  of  this  influence  was  due  to  the  personal 
agency  of  Mr.  Moody.  This  was  especially  manifest 
when  we  consider  what  influence  the  Chicago  associa- 
tion has  exerted  upon  the  association  movement 
abroad.  That  influence  has  been  almost  exclusively 
exerted  through  the  personal  agency  of  Mr.  Moody. 
It  has  been  an  influence  of  benediction  upon  the  work 
in  Great  Britain,  and  his  oft-repeated  testimony  that 
he  owes  more  to  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion and  to  the  Chicago  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation than  any  other  one  human  agency,  has  exerted 
an  untold  influence  in  commending  the  organization 
where  no  other  human  voice  could  commend  it  to 
approval,  support,  and  extension.  In  giving  Mr. 
Moody  to  the  association  movement  the  Chicago 
association  gave  a  world-wide  influence,  exerted  in 
laying  emphasis  upon  the  central  and  controlling  spir- 
itual purpose  of  the  brotherhood. 

"In  later  years,  as  the  Chicago  association  has 
rounded  out  its  activity,  extending  it  to  all  the  depart- 
ments of  the  association  work,  social,  intellectual,  and 
physical,  as  well  as  spiritual,  its  example  and  influence 
have  been  felt  most  helpfully  throughout  all  that 
wide  territory  where  the  influence  of  Chicago  is  more 
strongly  felt  than  that  of  any  other  city.  Those  iden- 
tified with  the  international  work,  on  both  sides  of  the 
Atlantic,  have  keenly  realized  this.  And  the  manner 
in  which  this  development  has  been  accomplished  has 
been  almost  ideally  perfect.  The  process  of  this  de- 
velopment was  initiated,  and  has  been  presided  over, 
by  the  lay  element  in  the  association  through  the  wise 
assumption   or   undertaking  of   leadership  by  leading 


vc_ 


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^.  J.  Prindle 

B-   L,  PREXTI55 


PRESEXT  ADVISORY  MANAGERS 

F^vxK  J.  ^xiTH  Geo-  I^Ej^r 

R.  T.  . 


World-Wide  Relations.  69 

service  but  a  single  year,  from  November  i,  1876,  to 
November  i,  1877.  When,  however,  in  1879,  at  the 
Decatur  convention  it  was  proposed  again  to  put  a 
state  secretary  into  the  field,  the  movement  was  urged 
by  the  Chicago  representatives,  and  in  the  following 
convention  one  half  of  the  financial  burden  of  the  state 
work  was  assumed  by  the  Chicago  association. 

"In  its  beginnings  the  present  representative  paper 
of  our  associations  was  simply  a  bulletin  of  the  Chicago 
association,  which  was  begun  in  November,  1874. 
After  a  year  or  two  of  publication  the  name  was 
changed  to  the  Watchman,  and  the  paper  came  to  be, 
not  a  mere  representative  of  the  Chicago  association, 
but  an  individual  enterprise,  the  aim  of  which  was  to 
reach  the  associations  of  the  country  and  world.  The 
support  which  has  been  given  in  recent  years  to  this 
paper  by  friends  in  Chicago  is  well  known.  It  is  an 
open  secret  that  the  paper  under  whatever  name,  the 
Watchman,  the  Young  Men's  Era  or  Men,  could  not 
have  existed  had  it  not  been  for  the  interest  of  asso- 
ciation friends  in  this  city. 

"In  the  beginning  of  the  secretarial  institute  at 
Lake  Geneva,  the  Chicago  association  did  not  have  so 
large  a  part.  The  men  who  are  perhaps  more  respon- 
sible than  any  others  for  the  establishment  of  this 
educational  institution  were  W.  E.  Lewis,  state  secre- 
tary of  Wisconsin,  and  Robert  Weidensall  of  the  inter- 
national force.  Chicago  men,  however,  were  identified 
with  the  movement  from  the  start.  The  first  com- 
mittee appointed  consisted  of  W.  E.  Lewis,  C.  G. 
Baldwin  and  I.  E.  Brown.  During  Mr.  Brown's 
absence  on  account  of  sickness,  Mr.  George  T. 
Howser  of  the  Chicago  association,  acted  as  his  sub- 
stitute.     Members  of  the    Chicago   association   have 


70  World-Wide  Relations. 

been  represented  upon  the  directorate  ever  since  the 
incorporation  of  the  institute  in  August,  1886. 

''In  the  founding  of  the  Chicago  training  school  for 
secretaries,  the  Chicago  association  was  perhaps  the 
largest  factor.  Late  in  the  month  of  March,  1890, 
there  came  into  the  mind  of  one  of  the  officers  of  the 
institute  the  idea  that  large  facilities  for  practical 
training  were  close  at  hand  in  the  association  circles  of 
Chicago.  At  that  time  the  classrooms  of  the  central 
department  were  available  during  the  hours  of  the 
day.  There  were  experienced  association  men  to  give 
instruction,  and  the  different  departments  of  the  city- 
furnished  an  almost  unrivaled  field  for  observation. 
On  April  3d  of  that  year  a  conference  was  held,  at 
which  there  were  present  L.  W.  Messer,  H.  F.  Wil- 
liams, Daniel  Sloan,  E.  L.  Hayford,  L.  B.  Smith  and 
I.  E.  Brown.  At  this  meeting  the  general  plans  of 
organizing  a  training  school  were  approved,  and  steps 
taken  looking  to  the  formation  of  classes.  Of  the 
six  men  in  the  first  meeting,  four  were  directly  con- 
nected with  the  Chicago  association.  Ever  s.nce  that 
time  the  Chicago  association  has  assisted  in  the  im- 
portant work  of  the  training  school  through  the  use 
of  its  unrivaled  facilities,  through  the  help  given  by 
its  secretaries  in  instruction,  and  through  the  oppor- 
tunities given  for  observation  and  practical  work  on 
the  part  of  the  students. 

"Set  as  it  is  in  the  heart  of  the  continent,  and  so 
situated  that  the  tide  of  travel  east  and  west  passes 
naturally  through  it,  the  Chicago  association  is,  from 
its  very  position,  destined  to  exert  a  continually  in- 
creasing influence  on  the  association  work,  which  has 
now  become  world-wide.  It  is  a  striking  fact  that 
many  of  the  foreign  secretaries    of   the  international 


PRINCIPAL  PAID  OFFICERS 

ViLLiAM  J.  Parker    L.  B.  Moore  L.  Wilbur  Messer    James  F.  Gates       George  W.  Ehler 

Iarry  D.  Abells        John  W.Adams  Walter  T.  Hart       C.  H.  Moormax       P.C.Atkinson 
ViLLiAM  Cook             O.  A.  Young  Walter  M.  Wood  A.  B.  Wegener 

J.  W.  Shaw  Arthur  B.  Dale 


World-Wide  Relations.  71 

committee  have  one  time  or  another  had  their  homes 
here.  White  of  India,  Hieb  of  Ceylon,  Lyon  of 
China,  and  Smith  of  India  have  all  had  their  homes 
here  for  a  longer  or  shorter  period,  while  John  R. 
Mott,  who  in  these  days  belongs  to  the  world,  at 
present  holds  his  membership  in  one  of  our  suburban 
churches.  Here  are  centered  a  group  of  widespread 
association  influences.  Here  are  the  headquarters  of 
the  Western  educational  work,  of  the  Illinois  state 
work,  of  the  association  paper;  also  the  Western 
office  of  the  international  committee,  which  includes 
in  its  force  at  this  point  the  secretary  who  has  charge 
of  the  city  association  work  in  foreign  lands." 

The  Chicago  association  has,  since  the  development 
of  the  association  work  in  missionary  lands,  substan- 
tially aided  this  movement  .  It  has  especially  assisted 
in  the  work  in  Japan  and  China.  Some  of  its  mem- 
bers have  largely  participated  in  the  support  of  the 
efficient  world-wide  supervision  which  has  marked  the 
work  in  recent  years. 

It  thus  appears  that  the  Chicago  association  is  more 
than  a  local  institution.  It  has  world-wide  relations 
and  opportunities.  It  occupies  a  conspicuous  and 
responsible  place  in  what  has  been  justly  called  the 
greatest  religious  movement  of  this  century.  The 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  has  reached, 
within  but  little  more  than  a  half-century,  a  position 
of  commanding  influence  wherever  Christian  men  seek 
to  extend  the  kingdom  of  God.  The  associations,  to 
promote  a  common  purpose,  have  united  by  voluntary 
action  into  state,  international  and  world  federations. 
Thus  has  been  attained  a  universal  brotherhood  of 
Christian  men.  It  is  the  great  privilege  and  high 
responsibility  of  the  Chicago  association  to  occupy  a 


72  World-Wide  Relations. 

strategic  point  in  the  association  world.  If  it  but 
meets  the  opportunities  which  lie  before  it,  the  re- 
cently expressed  hope  of  Mr.  Moody  "that  the  great- 
est work  and  the  greatest  successes  of  the  association 
are  yet  before  it,"  cannot  fail  of  realization. 


PRESENT  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES 


N.  S.  BouTON  Cyrus  H.  McCormick 

James  L.  Houghteling  Albert  L.  Coe 

N.  W.  Harris  W.  I.  Midler 

C.  C.   KOHLSAAT 


A.  G.  Lane 
E.  G.  Keith 
George  M.  High 
John  V.  Farwell,  Jr. 


THE   OUTLOOK. 

The  Chicago  association  has  now  for  forty  years 
held  its  place  in  this  community.  Its  history  has  been 
an  eventful  one.  It  has  passed  through  years  of  trial, 
and  overcome  what  sometimes  seemed  to  be  insur- 
mountable obstacles.  From  its  failures,  as  well  as  its 
successes,  has  come  knowledge.  From  its  trials  and 
its  achievements  has  come  inspiration.  From  its  entire 
experience  has  come  practical  wisdom  for  its  great 
task.  The  period  of  experiment  has  passed.  The 
association  has  acquired  the  elements  of  permanence 
and  power.  In  its  membership  are  enrolled  over  six 
thousand  of  the  young  men  of  Chicago.  Its  officers, 
trustees,  managers  and  committeemen  are  representa- 
tive and  faithful  men.  Its  material  equipment  is  ex- 
tensive and,  so  far  as  it  goes,  adequate  for  many  years 
to  come.  Its  work  and  methods  are  approved  by  the 
best  association  sentiment  of  the  world.  It  is  conse- 
crated to  a  great  purpose.  While  no  one  can  prophesy 
the  future  of  an  organization  thus  tested  and  equip- 
ped, or  measure  its  influence  for  good,  it  is  possible 
to  gain  some  idea  of  its  present  opportunities  and 
needs. 

The  field  for  the  activities  of  the  association  is  a  con- 
stantly extending  one.  Its  opportunities  increase  with 
the  growth  of  the  city.  Each  year  sees  an  increase  in 
the  numbers  of  young  men  who  come  to  Chicago  as 
strangers  for  temporary  or  permanent  residence.     The 

73 


74  The   Outlook. 


temptations  and  perils  of  city  life  are  constant.  They 
endanger  the  lives  and  test  the  characters  of  resi- 
dent young  men,  as  well  as  those  who  are  strangers  to 
city  life.  In  its  broad  work  of  prevention,  rescue  and 
symmetrical  education;  in  its  noble  purpose  to  de- 
velop the  body,  train  the  mind  and  quicken  the  spirit; 
in  its  ability  to  meet  the  needs  of  all  classes  of  young 
men,  and  the  varied  requirements  of  individuals,  the 
association  has  demonstrated  its  right  to  be  and  the 
imperative  need  for  its  extension.  Those  who  direct 
its  activities  cannot  remain  satisfied  with  its  past  suc- 
cesses. They  must  lead  onward  to  new  achievements. 
They  must  reap  the  harvest  which  is  now  ready  for 
the  sickle.  They  must  act  where  delay  would  mean 
serious  loss.  While  it  is  impracticable  at  once  to  pro- 
vide for  every  need,  and  thus  meet  every  opportunity, 
it  is  well  at  this  auspicious  moment  to  take  some 
account  of  what  are  the  present  opportunities  and 
needs  of  the  association. 

New  Buildings. — -New  buildings  are  needed  for  some 
of  the  existing  departments,  and  at  new  points.  The 
Englewood  building  is  inadequate  for  the  work  in  that 
important  section  of  the  city.  The  Hyde  Park  depart- 
ment is  in  rented  quarters.  It  needs  a  commodious 
modern  building  to  provide  for  the  residence  class  of 
men  and  boys,  and  for  the  growing  numbers  of  tran- 
sients in  its  vicinity.  The  North  side  needs  a  new 
department  and  first-class  building,  for  a  work  similar 
to  that  now  done  on  the  West  side. 

Railroad  Departments. — The  success  of  the  four  exist- 
ing railroad  departments,  and  the  appreciation  of  their 
work  by  railroad  men  and  the  officials  of  the  roads 
which  they  serve,  make  it  important  that  such  efforts 
be  promptly  repeated  at  no  less  than  six  other  points 


I  PRESENT  BOARD  OF  MANAGERS 

IfrTnc's  VV  Pa^'kL       C.M.Higginson    Hexrv  M.  Hubbard    A.  B.  Mead         Edw,.  Burritt  Smith 

Russell  (  o™  ^      1°"''     '  l'"^''       °-  '^'-  ^^"^'^  ^^'-  "'  «°^c°^'«  N.  S.  Davis.  Jr. 

ufHUH  D    Whhh;  ^r'    i    H^T-rR     -™""'  "•  ^-  S^^-*-^^^-     J^"'^  V-  HARWELL.  Jr. 

I  W  Hare  John  f.  Richards  A.E.Wells        John  C.  Grant 

W.  I.  Midler 


The  Outlook.  75 


in  this  vicinity.  Definite  encouragement  from  several 
railroad  corporations  has  been  received.  Chicago  is 
the  greatest  railroad  center  in  the  country.  The 
opportunities  for  this  branch  of  the  work  are  great,  and 
must  be  more  fully  improved. 

The  bitercollegiate  Department. — Chicago  has  become 
a  great  educational  center.  It  is  especially  rich  in 
professional  schools.  Few  realize  that  more  profes- 
sional students  now  study  here  than  in  any  other 
American  city.  Many  of  these  are  strangers,  and  re- 
main only  while  prosecuting  their  professional  studies. 
When  the  select  and  representative  character  of  these 
men  is  considered,  the  importance  of  a  strong  associa- 
tion work  for  them  will  be  conceded.  The  association 
should  have  at  least  two  students'  dormitory  buildings, 
costing  about  $50,000  each.  They  could  be  almost 
immediately  filled,  and  would  be  self-sustaining  if 
completely  equipped.  Such  an  investment  would  yield 
large  returns  in  molding  the  character  of  those  who 
are  to  be  leaders  of  men  in  many  communities. 

Lodging  Homes. — There  are  many  young  men  who 
have  employment,  but  at  very  low  wages.  Many  of 
these  have  but  recently  arrived  in  the  city,  and  have 
begun  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder.  A  Christian  home 
should  be  provided  for  them,  where  they  can  have 
rooms  and  meals  at  actual  cost.  This  would  surround 
them  with  Christian  influences  during  their  first 
months  in  a  strange  city.  This  is  the  danger  period 
for  such  men,  and  every  effort  should  be  made  to 
surround  them  with  right  influences.  Their  surround- 
ings at  this  time  will  determine  the  future  of  many 
of  them.  To  meet  this  need  the  association  must 
rely  upon  philanthropists  who  will  provide  a  building 
to  be  operated  under  its  auspices,  similar  in  construe- 


76  The  Outlook. 


tion  and  appliances,  though  perhaps  much  more  modest 
in  scale,  to  the  Mills  Hotel  of  New  York.  Such  a 
building  and  equipment,  if  given  to  the  association, 
would  no  doubt  be  self-supporting.  It  would  save 
many  young  men  from  evil  influences. 

Rescue  Departmeiit. — There  is  still  another  class  of 
young  men  whose  needs  are  even  greater.  They  are 
without  employment,  and  eke  out  a  precarious  exist- 
ence. Many  of  them  are  given  to  vicious  and  even 
criminal  practices.  At  present  the  association  is  not 
provided  with  facilities  to  meet  the  needs  of  this  class. 
A  building  should  be  located  at  one  of  the  most  con- 
gested points  on  the  West  side  for  this  purpose.  The 
investment  of  ^100,000  will  provide  adequate  equip- 
ment. Provision  should  be  made  for  cheap  sleeping 
and  restaurant  privileges  and  for  an  employment 
bureau.  There  should  also  be  provision  made  for 
every  form  of  practical  ministry  to  the  outcast  and 
forlorn.  Such  an  equipment  would  be  of  untold  value 
to  this  class  of  young  men. 

Endowinents. — Public  institutions  which  are  largely 
dependent  for  support  on  annual  subscriptions  from 
public-spirited  citizens  are  always  hampered  in  meet- 
ing their  opportunities.  All  the  most  successful  in- 
stitutions for  higher  education  are  endowed.  The 
great  universities  are  made  strong  by  their  princely 
endowments.  It  is  only  by  great  equipments  and 
independent  incomes  that  they  can  supply  the  facilities 
which  are  required  by  their  students.  Few  indeed 
could  acquire  a  university  training,  if  obliged  to  pay 
but  its  actual  cost.  Our  universities  are  endowed 
because  of  their  public  character  and  the  recognized 
value  of  their  work  to  the  community  at  large.  Sim- 
ilar considerations  should  lead  to  the  proper  endow- 


CYRUS  H.  Mccormick 


The  Outlook.  77 


ment  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 
It  is  essentially  an  educational  institution.  In  its 
service  to  individuals  it  renders  the  most  important 
service  to  society.  It  provides  at  nominal  fees  excep- 
tional facilities  for  the  spiritual,  mental,  social  and 
physical  training  of  young  men.  While  many  members 
continue  in  the  association  year  after  year,  by  constant 
changes  in  its  membership  it  reaches  directly  very 
large  numbers  of  young  men.  Its  members  are  no 
more  pauperized  by  receiving  its  privileges  at  less 
than  cost  than  are  the  students  of  a  university  whose 
tuition  fees  pay  but  a  small  part  of  the  cost  of  their 
education.  It  makes  no  appeal  for  charity,  but  for 
an  endowment  adequate  to  meet  its  needs  as  one  of 
the  great  public  institutions  of  the  city. 

The  pressing  needs  of  the  Chicago  association,  in 
addition  to  those  heretofore  enumerated,  as  seen  by 
those  who  are  conversant  with  its  work,  are  the  fol- 
lowing: 

1.  An  annual  income  of  ^4,000  for  association  col- 
lege, to  provide  additional  teachers  and  equipment. 

2.  A  like  annual  income  for  the  physical  section,  to 
improve  its  equipment  and  add  to  its  teaching  force. 

3.  At  least  a  like  income  for  the  spiritual  sec- 
tion, to  be  expended  upon  religious  services  and  for 
books  and  printed  matter. 

4.  An  annual  income  of  at  least  g  10,000  for  the 
work  of  the  board  of  managers.  The  membership  fees 
cannot  be  applied  to  meet  the  expenses  of  superin- 
tendence and  extension.  These  expenses  are  now 
met  entirely  by  annual  contributions.  In  view  of  the 
importance  and  extent  of  the  functions  of  this  board, 
it  will  be  seen  how  directly  it  would  strengthen  the 


78  The  Outlook. 


entire  work  to  have  its  support  made  adequate  and 
certain. 

These  sums  should  be  provided  from  the  income  of 
invested  funds.  The  regular  work  of  the  association, 
as  now  conducted,  requires  the  annual  expenditure  of 
$100,000.  Yet  it  has  but  one  invested  fund,  the  Rey- 
nolds, of  $50,000,  the  income  from  which  is  used  for 
missionary  work  among  young  men. 

The  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  association  should 
be  reduced  by  subscriptions  for  that  purpose.  A  re- 
duction of  fixed  charges  will  enable  the  trustees  more 
rapidly  to  retire  the  remaining  indebtedness  on  the 
central  building,  and  release  income  for  the  support 
and  extension  of  the  regular  work  of  the  association. 
Not  until  the  central  building  is  free  from  debt  can 
the  association  realize  its  full  value  to  the  work. 

The  Chicago  association,  as  we  have  seen,  has  not 
lived  to  itself  alone.  Its  opportunities  are  by  no 
means  confined  to  the  city  which  it  serves.  A  present 
tendency  in  the  association  movement  is  its  rapid 
extension  in  missionary  lands.  The  opportunity  for 
co-operation  in  Christian  work  which  it  presents,  its 
practical  facilities  and  tested  methods,  are  found 
admirably  suited  to  the  needs  of  mission  fields.  May 
not  Chicago  establish  and  support  the  association  in 
some  one  great  city  of  China? 

The  needs  here  indicated  mark  the  splendid  oppor- 
tunities of  the  Chicago  association  on  its  fortieth 
anniversary.  Opportunities  so  important  and  so  in- 
spiring have  come  to  the  association  because  it  has 
kept  the  faith  of  its  earlier  years.  The  builders  of 
Chicago  feel  that  they  are  citizens  of  no  mean  city. 
Measured  by  its  material  achievements,  its  institutions 
of  learning,  its  temples  of  art,  its  altars  of  religion — 


L.  WILBUR  MESSER 


The  Outlook.  79 


by  all  that  makes  for  progress  and  righteousness — Chi- 
cago is  already  an  imperial  city.  Among  the  power- 
ful forces  that  through  all  these  years  have  contrib- 
uted to  ground  its  higher  life  on  sound  Christian 
principles,  none  has  done  more  than  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association.  Among  the  constant  influences 
that  tend  to  make  those  who  are  to  shape  and  control 
the  future  of  Chicago  men  of  high  Christian  character 
and  purpose,  none  promises  more  than  the  established 
and  tried  institution  having  its  center  in  the  noble 
building  which  stands  at  the  heart  of  the  city  to  min- 
ister to  its  young  men.  That  building,  and  the  great 
work  done  through  it,  bear  concrete  testimony  to  the 
faith  of  the  men  who  have  made  Chicago  known 
around  the  world.  Their  loyal  support  of  the  associ- 
ation through  all  these  years  bears  like  testimony  to 
their  belief  in  Christian  character  and  their  desire  to 
perpetuate  it  in  those  who  are  to  come  after  them. 

The  Chicago  association  has  not  wrought  by  chance; 
nor  is  its  present  commanding  position  in  the  forefront 
of  the  moral  forces  of  Chicago  due  to  accident.  The 
presence  of  God  has  been  manifest  through  all  its  his- 
tory. He  seems  to  have  said  to  it:  "Every  place 
that  the  sole  of  your  foot  shall  tread  upon,  that  have 
I  given  unto  you.  *  *  *  I  have  given  into  thine 
hand  Jericho."  It  is  impossible  that  an  association  of 
young  men  having  the  inspiration  of  such  an  history, 
an  experience  so  practical,  a  position  so  commanding, 
a  purpose  so  exalted,  can  fail.  Thankful  for  its  past, 
doubly  thankful  for  the  opportunities  of  its  present, 
it  enters  upon  the  larger  work  which  God  has  commit- 
ted to  its  hands. 


APPENDIX. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION. 

Cyrus  Bentley,                .           .           .           .           .  1858-1859 

John  V.  Farwell,      -----  1859-1861 

J.  H.  Hollister,               -            .            .            -            -  1861-1862 

B.  F.  Jacobs,   ------  1862-1863 

E.  S.  Wells,          ------  1863-1864 

H.  W.  Fuller,             -----  1864-1865 

D.  L.  Moody,         -            •            -            .            -            -  1865-1869 

C.  M,  Henderson,       -----  1869-1871 

T.  W.  Harvey,      ------  1871-1873 

N.  S.  BouTON,              -----  1873-1874 

John  V.  Farwell,            -----  1874-1876 

T.  W.  Harvey,'           -----  1876-1878 

E.  G.  Keith, 2  -.--,.  1878-1881 
James  L.  Houghteling,  -  -  .  -  1881-1884 
John  V.  Farwell,  Jr.,  -----  1884-1894 
Henry  M.  Hubbard,              .           -           .           .            1895 

>  Mr.  Harvey  resigned  his  office  in  June,  1879,  and  Mr.  Keith  was  selected  to  fill 
out  the  unexpired  term. 

^  Mr.  Keith  resigned  in  June,  1881,  and  the  vacancy  was  not  filled  until  the  regular 
election  took  place. 


SECRETARIES  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION. 

F.  M.  Rockwell,              -           -           .            -  -      1866-1872 

W.  W.  Vanarsdale,  -----  1872-1878 

A.  T.  Hemingway, 2           -            .            -            -  .      1878-1888 

L.  Wilbur  Messer,  -----  1888 

'  In  the  early  years  the  Association  employed  Librarians  and  Agents.     Both  Mr. 
Moody  and  Mr.  F.  H.  Revell  served  in  the^e  capacities. 

'  There  was  an  interregnum  in  Mr.  Hemingway's  service  in  1885. 

83 


/ 


POPULATION  OF  CHICAGO. 

1850 28,269 

1858  (Estimated) — 90,000 

i860 109,206 

1870 306.605 

1880 503.298 

1890 -- - 1,098,576 

1898  (Estimated) 1,850,000 


ASSOCIATION  PROPERTY. 

Central  Building $1,700,000 

West  Side  Building--- 75. 000 

Englewood  Building 20,000 

Garfield  Boulevard  Building 10,000 

Chicago  and  Northwestern  Building 27,000 

Elsdon  Building 6,000 

Personal  Property - 25,000 

$1,863,000 

INCUMBRANCES. 

Central  Building $631,000 

West  Side  Building 6,000 

Englewood  Building 10,000 

Garfield  Boulevard  Building 1,000 

$    648.000 

Net  Value 1,215,000 

$1,863,000 

84 


INDEX. 


INDEX. 

Active  membership,  iS;  Army  committee,  22;  Association  build- 
ing. 53.  54.  55,  56,  57,  58;  Association  College,  42,  77;  Asso- 
ciate members,  18;  Association  paper,  69;  Auxiliary  mem- 
bership, 18,  23;  Aldis,  Owen  F.,  54;  Armour,  George,  17; 
Avery,  T.  M.,  17. 

Board  of  Managers,  38,  77;  Board  of  Trustees,  17,  38;  Babcock, 
J.  J.,  17;  Baldwin,  C.  G.,  69;  Barnes,  Henry  E.,  28;  Beidler, 
Jacob,  59;  Bentley,  Cyrus,  11, 16,  17,  19,  26,  27;  Blair,  William, 
17;  Bliss,  P.  P.,  28;  Bond,  L.  L.,  16;  Bouton,  N.  S.,  16,  54; 
Blatchford,  E.  W.,  17;  Boyd,  Robert,  17;  Boyington,  W.  W., 
17;  Brown,  I.  E.,  68,  69,  70. 

Central  department,  37,  39;  Charter,  17;  Chicago  fire  of  1871,  49; 
Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railroad  Department,  39,  40,  60; 
Constitution,  17,  18,  23,  31,  38,  39;  Cheney,  Bishop  Charles  E., 
15,  26,  49;  Coe,  Albert  L.,  16,  54;  Cole,  J.  H.,  28,  68;  Cook, 
William,  45;  Covell,  Charles,  24;  Crerar,  John,  52,55;  Cur- 
tiss,  Jacob  S.,  28. 

Dearborn  Station  R.  R.  D.,  40;  Definite  work,  31,  36,  37,  41; 
Dean,  John  W.,  28;  Dickey,  Hugh  T.,  17. 

Early  buildings,  23,  24,  32;  Early  records,  14;  Early  work,  20,  21, 
24,37;  Educational  work,  42,  43;  Elsdon  department,  40,  61 ; 
Endowments,  76;  Englewood  department,  40,  62,74;  Evan- 
gelical test,  i7;Eddy,  T.  M.,  17,  23;Ehler,  George  W.,  44; 
Evarts,  Dr.,  15,  23,  26;  Ensign,  E.G.,  32,  49. 

Farwell  Hall,47,  50,  51 ;  First  building,  47;  First  rooms,  16,  21,47; 
Four-fold  work,  41 ;  Farwell,  John  V.,  16,  17,  22,  26,  27,  47,  49, 
68;  Farwell,  John  V.  Jr.,  29,  54,  58,  63;  Fisk,  Franklin  W.,  23; 
French,  Henry,  28;  Frost,  Charles  S.,  61. 

Garfield  Boulevard  department,  39,  58;  Grant,  W.  C,  16. 

Hyde  Park  department,  40,  74;  Haney,  Isaac,  28;  Hart,  Walter  T., 
45;  Hays,  Charles  M.,  62;  Hayford,  E.  L.,  70;  Hemingway,  A. 
T.,  34,  66;  Hieb,  Louis,  71;  Hinsdale,  Henry  W.,  17;  Hitch- 
cock, J.  M.,  49,  68;  Holbrook,  William,  28;  Hollister,  J.  H.,  15, 
24,  25,  27;  Hughitt,  Marvin,  60;  Humphrey,  Dr.,  15,  26;  Hurl- 
but,  H.  A.,  17;  Houghteling,  James  L.,  29,54,63,66;  Howser, 
George  T.,  45,  69;  Hoyt,  Deacon,  27;  Hubbard,  Henry  M.,  54. 

87 


88  Index. 

Inaugural  address,  President  Bentley,  ii,  i6;  Intercollegiate  de- 
partment, 40,  75;  Isham,  I.  N.,  16. 

Jacobs,  B.  F.,  16,  17,  24,  26,  27,  47,  49,  68;  Jenney  &  Mundie,  54. 

Keith,  E.  G.,  54;  King,  Tuthill,  17. 

Life  members,  18;  Lodging  homes,  75;  Lawrence,  William  M., 
59;  Lee,  William  L.,  17;  Leiter,  L.  Z.,  16;  Lewis,  W.  E.,  69; 
Lunt,  Orrington,  16,  17;  Lyon,  Willard,  71. 

Membership,  17,37,39,73;  Metropolitan  plan,  20,  35,  37,  38,  58; 
McCagg,  E.  B.,  17;  McCormick,  Cyrus  H.,  Sr.,  17;  McCormick, 
Cyrus  H.,  29,  54,  63;  Mitchell,  John  J.,  54;  Messer,  L.  Wilbur, 
37»  63,  70;  Moody,  D.  L.,  16,  24,  26,  27,  28,  33,  47,  49,  66,  67,  72; 
Moore,  S.  M.,  54;  Morse,  Richard  C,  66;  Morton,  Charles  M., 
68;  Mott,JohnR.,  71;  Mowry,  Henry  C,  28;  Myers,  Philip,  68. 

Noon  prayer-meeting,  25,  48;  New  buildings,  74. 

Object  of  association,  12,  16,  39;  Oates,  James  F.,  45. 

Physical  section,  43,  44,  77;  Page,  Peter,  17;  Patton,  W.  W.,  27; 
Patterson,  Robert,  23,  49;   Perkins,  David  W.,  28;   Pratt,  Dr., 

23- 

Quayle,  Robert,  61. 

Railroad  departments,  37,  74;  Ravenswood  department,  40;  Res- 
cue department,  76;  Rand,  William  H.,  16;  Ransom,  Porter, 
28;  Revell,  Fleming  H.,  34,  68;  Rockwell,  F.  M.,  27,  34. 

Second  building,  49;  Secretarial  institute,  69;  Social  section,  43; 
Spiritual  section,  77;  Sankey,  Ira  D.,  28;  Sargent,  H.  E.,  17; 
Scranton,  A.  R.,  17;  Sexton,  James,  28;  Sloan,  Daniel,  45,  70; 
Smith,  Byron  L.,  54;  Smith,  George  B.,  71 ;  Smith,  L.  B.,  70; 
Spafford,  H,  G.,  68;  Swazy,  A.,  23;   Sweet,  E.  D,  L.,  17. 

Third  building,  50;  Training  school,  70;  Thaw,  William,  58; 
Townsend,  George  B.,  45. 

United  States  Christian  Commission,  23;  Underwood,  P.  L.,  16, 
24,  26,  28,  47;  Vanarsdale,  W.  W.,  34. 

War  committee,  22,  28;  West  side  department,  40,  58,  59;  Wads- 
worth,  E.  S.,  17;  Weidensall,  Robert,  65,  66,  68,  69;  Wells,  E. 
S.,  26,  47;  Willard,  Frances,  28;  Williams,  George,  12;  Will- 
iams, H.  F.,  70;  Willing,  H.  J.,  16;  White,  W.W., 71;  Whittle, 
D,  W.,  24,  27,  49;  Wood,  Walter  M.,  43. 


PRINTED  BY  R.  R.  DONNELLEY 
AND  SONS  COMPANY  AT  THE 
LAKESIDE  PRESS,  CHICAGO,  ILL. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 

267.397731  SM55H  C001 

HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  YOUNG  MEN'S  CHR 


3  0112  025275972 


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